Springboks returnee highlights impact of Tony Brown on ‘very conservative’ team

Back-row Jean-Luc du Preez will make his return to action for the Springboks when they take on the Barbarians in their Qatar Airways Cup clash in Cape Town on Saturday.

The 29-year-old has been on the fringes of Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus’ team since he took charge of the side in 2018 and his last match for the world champions was a 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up encounter against Argentina.

Since then, there has been some changes to the Springboks‘ coaching staff with the likes of attack coach Tony Brown joining Erasmus’ backroom team and Du Preez has been encouraged by the impact which the former All Blacks fly-half has made.

Impressed by Tony Brown’s impact on Springboks

Du Preez believes Erasmus’ team have turned into a better all-round side and said Brown’s impact in that regard has been obvious.

“I would say the difference Tony has made coming in is that the Boks have always been labelled as, and I don’t want to say boring, but a very conservative team,” he said.

“We were known as a team who kick a lot and that does its playing in their half of the field.

“I just think with Tony coming in these last two years, our attack has really stepped up.”

Du Preez has had few opportunities at Test level and will pack down at number eight against the Barbarians in an exciting back-row alongside Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka.

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“The last time I played with Siya was back in 2018, so it’s going to be good to reconnect with him on the field again on Saturday,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to playing with Siya and Vincent (Tshituka) and I will be taking on the Jasper Wiese role in the middle of the field.”

Du Preez, Kolisi and Tshituka will go head-to-head against an experienced Barbarians back-row of Ireland legend Peter O’Mahony, who will skipper the famous invitational side in his last match before retiring, and All Blacks duo Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell.

‘We’ll need to front up’

“They’ll be coming hard. They’ll want to prove themselves against the Boks and that’s where we’ll need to front up,” he said.

“I think they’ll definitely want to prove a point, because just playing against the Springboks will get them up for it.”

Although the clash with the Barbarians will not be an official Test, Du Preez is excited to wear the the Springboks jersey again and his aim is to make full use of the opportunity afforded to him.

“Playing for the Springboks again has always been in the back of my mind, and my plan was always to give my best for my club in the hope that I make it back into the team, so I’m delighted to get this opportunity again,” said Du Preez.

“It is a massive privilege, so I plan to go out there and give it my best.”

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