Ruan Nortje and Thomas du Toit are fired up for what promises to be a fierce contest up front between the Springboks and Los Pumas in Argentina on Saturday.
Both teams are still in contention for the Rugby Championship title, so the stakes are high. Nortje is preparing for a physical showdown at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades, and well aware of the challenge ahead, particularly in the forwards.
“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,” said Nortje. “But we prepared well this week, and we are excited about the challenge.”
At just 26 years old, Nortje may be one of the younger players in the squad, but the towering lock is relishing the responsibility of calling the lineouts in his first Test in Argentina. “Calling the lineouts comes with its own pressure, but I enjoy it,” he said.
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“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.”
With the match being played in what is expected to be a hostile environment, Nortje has drawn on the advice of more experienced teammates to prepare mentally for the challenge. “The more senior guys have certainly prepared us for what to expect, so it’s important to get our mindsets right for a hostile environment and one of the toughest games one can play.”
Meanwhile, Du Toit is ready to make the most of his rare start in the front row. The versatile prop has been a stalwart in South African rugby, but his starting opportunities at Test level have been limited – Saturday’s match will be the 29-year-old’s 21st cap.
“It’s an unbelievably competitive front row,” Du Toit acknowledged. He knows that when chances come, they must be seized. “We now feel, more than ever, that the trust is there,” Du Toit said. “There’s also the part that we’re building a squad, and it’s not just words, it’s being put into action.”
Despite the competition within the team, Du Toit remains focused on the responsibility that comes with being trusted to perform for the world champions.
“On the flip side of the coin, there’s a big responsibility on the players that are being trusted. So, there’s a good balance of feeling trusted but also knowing that there’s a big responsibility ahead of us.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
