FILE - Springboks lock lock Ruan Nortje takes a lineout ball against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Nortje has had to step up in the No jersey following a number of injuries for the Springboks. FILE - Springboks lock lock Ruan Nortje takes a lineout ball against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Nortje has had to step up in the No jersey following a number of injuries for the Springboks. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Lock Ruan Nortje probably had very little hope of featuring for the Springboks this year.
The Bulls man is probably only fourth or fifth in the queue for the Springboks’ No 5 jersey, such is the quality of South Africa’s second rowers. It’s the envy of the rugby world.
But the 26-year-old lock has been thrust in the spotlight after Franco Mostert and RG Snyman suffered injuries ahead of the Rugby Championship tour to Australia. Add to the fact that Lood de Jager and Munster No 4 Jean Kleyn are also still on the mend, the Springboks suddenly looked a bit thin in that department.
But Nortje has stepped up in a big way, featuring in the Springboks’ last three Tests - the second Test against the Wallabies and the two home matches against the All Blacks.
In those matches Nortje had to start to with three different partners, running out with Salmaan Moerat against the Wallabies and playing with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth against the All Blacks.
Thrown into the deep end, Nortje has splashed around without any floaters on his arms, making a statement that he belongs at this level.
He is certainly enjoying this little run in the team, and has also embraced the responsibility of making the lineout calls.
“All the guys that play at the Springboks are quality. Everyone that is here brings a different attribute to the game,” Nortje said.
“I really slotted in nicely with anyone I played with, if it’s Salmaan, Pieter-Steph or Eben. I’m just honoured to play in this jersey and to play with quality players.
“Calling the lineouts comes with its own pressure, but I enjoy it and I pride myself on it,” he added.
Nortje will again partner up with Moerat in the second row against Argentina on Saturday, while Boks have the luxury of SA legend Eben Etzebeth coming off the bench in what is expected to be a tough battle upfront.
Facing a fired up Los Pumas team in front of their passionate supporters is going to be great challenge, especially as they still have a mathematical chance of winning the Rugby Championship with the return match at the Mbombela Stadium still to come next weekend.
Nortje, however, is looking forward to the battle.
“They are similar to the Springboks, as they also pride themselves on their physicality. So we know they are not going to shy away from that in the game,” Nortje said.
“We know the quality of the pack we are coming up against and the standard of their game in general, but the systems we have in place take care of what we want to do, so it’s vital we stick to our structures on Saturday.
“We prepared well this week, and we are excited about the challenge.”
@JohnGoliath82