While the Springbok selectors may still be ignoring him, there isn’t much of an argument that Embrose Papier is simply one of the players that is the most valuable in the Vodacom Bulls campaign right now.
The veteran scrumhalf, who last played for the Springboks in 2017, has had a renaissance this season - not that there was much wrong with his form in the past few seasons - but has been particularly deadly on attack for the Bulls.
It is no surprise that Papier has won no less than five man of the match awards this year, putting in stellar performances and showing that his speed is a massive asset, but that his game management and vision have been exceptional and crucial to the Bulls hopes.
In the recent match against Munster he scored one of the tries of the season, breaking away from the scrum and beating three players single handedly to find his way to the tryline in sensational form. It changed the complexion of the game, and Papier was on hand later again to score again as the Bulls won a difficult encounter.
But that was just one of his eight tries this season, and they have all been worth a watch.
Outside that, his passing accuracy has increased and his fitness is the best it has been in his career, but it is his opportunism that has caught the headlines.
Papier hit 89 metres in that Munster game, and it caught the eye because of the context of the game, but his sniping runs and his ability to link up with players like Kurt-Lee Arendse and others on attack has made him deadly to opposition.
Whether he catches the eye of the Springboks again is a moot point - the Boks do have a number of exceptional halfbacks at the moment - but one thing is sure, Papier is going to make an impact when he plays.
He will always be near or in the face of an attack. And for that the Bulls are grateful.
And if this form continues, and he keeps knocking on the door, who can begrudge him for hoping it will be opened again.