Any fear that South Africans might have that the Springboks will underestimate Scotland in Sunday’s first game of their November tour should be allayed by the knowledge that there have been a few bloody noses delivered by the host players to some of the visitors in recent times.
Whereas the last time the Boks were in Edinburgh, where Scotland host them at Murrayfield on Sunday, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship had only just begun and had been on the go for a few months, the inter-hemisphere competition is now into its fourth season.
The South African teams have got to know what the Scots can bring on the playing field with their club teams, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, and a healthy respect has been developed. One of the players who will know more about that than most is the lock Ruan Nortje, who will probably look back at the Glasgow win in last season’s URC final as one of the low points of his career.
Nortje captained a Vodacom Bulls team that started as strong favourites against the Scottish unit. Not only were they playing at their home fortress, with the advantage that altitude is supposed to bring the hosts, they had also seen off arguably the best team in the competition, Leinster, the previous week.
But after dominating the early stages of the game, the Bulls struggled to put the Warriors away. And then back the Scots came to claim a brave and famous victory. That win, while not involving the Scotland national team, was probably as big a step forward for the Scottish rugby psyche than any that has been taken by Scotland in recent years.
“If you look at a team like Glasgow and the way they have grown the last few years you appreciate that Scottish rugby has a lot going for it,” said Nortje, who will be facing the Scots for the first time in his international career if he does get selected for Sunday’s game.
“Their (Glasgow’s) forward pack is very physical and versatile. So we are expecting an onslaught from them. We are expecting them to mount a really tough challenge on Sunday.”
Nortje said that the week-long camp in Jersey that preceded the Bok squad’s arrival in Scotland had been just what the doctor had ordered for the world champions as they come up against a team that got in a good playing opportunity when they boosted their confidence with a 57-17 win over Fiji last Saturday.
“We had a good time last week in Jersey and it was nice to be together as a group after four weeks apart,” he said.
“The whole week went well and the practices went well. We had four good practices and it was also a good bonding opportunity. We know what a dynamic team Scotland are, they have threats all over the field. It was important for us to get a few good days under the belt before the Test week, which starts now. From now all the focus is on Sunday’s game.”
Nortje has been one of the success stories of a year so far that has had a lot of focus on the experimentation that builds depth. He wasn’t in the squad at the start of the international season and only got called up because of injuries, but since the two Rugby Championship games against Australia in Australia, he has been a constant presence in the Bok second row.
He’s more than taken his chance, but can expect stronger competition for his No5 jersey now that the experienced international locks RG Snyman and Franco Mostert are back in the mix after recovering from injury. Nortje though doesn’t sound like he ever takes starting for the Boks as a given, particularly as he knows he plays in a position overloaded with talent.
“South Africa is a place where locks are bred, so I know it is a tough position to make it,” said the Bulls captain.
“But that is a challenge I relished taking on and making the Bok team was something I dreamed about as a boy. Actually, not in my wildest dreams did I really think I would make it this far, so it just shows that hard work can pay off.
“I am just privileged and blessed to be in this position, and I regard every opportunity to wear the Bok jersey as possibly the last time. Because of the quality of players available, every game could be your last time playing for your country, so you just have to make the most of it.”
The Springbok team for Sunday’s game at Murrayfield will be announced on Wednesday.