Springboks: New face in squad ready to make up for lost time in Rugby Championship
Springboks and Bulls lock Ruan Nortje.
Highly rated second-row Ruan Nortje is excited to be back in the Springboks camp for the first time since 2022 and is hoping to make up for lost time in the international arena.
After making his solitary Test appearance against Wales two years ago, Nortje has been in the international wilderness. But after shining for the Bulls during the recent United Rugby Championship – where they finished as runners-up to Glasgow Warriors – he was recalled to the Springboks squad.
Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus and his squad are currently holding a short camp in Johannesburg before their departure to Australia where their Rugby Championship campaign gets underway against the Wallabies in Brisbane on August 10.
Nortje was the only new face in the squad, which means it is the first time he is working with Erasmus’ new coaching staff which includes Tony Brown (backline coach) and Jerry Flannery (defence coach).
‘Dream to play for the Springboks’
“It has always been a dream to play for the Springboks and after getting the chance to make my debut in 2022, I’ve been working hard to try to make my way back into the squad,” said Nortje.
“I played with quite a few of the guys in 2022 and being able to play and train with them again is an absolute honour and privilege.
“Obviously the systems have changed quite a lot since the last time I was part of the team, but that excites me even more because I love learning new things and I’ve been enjoying the new aspects of the game the coaches have introduced to the set-up.”
