Elstadt confirms Bok call-up talks
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Powerful but uncapped loose-forward Rynhardt Elstadt is in with a shout of featuring for the Springboks at the World Cup.
Elstadt, who was one of the stars of Toulouse’s successful Top 14 campaign, confirmed he had discussed a potential Springbok call-up.
The 29-year-old played for the Springboks Under-20s side in 2009 and worked under South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus at the Stormers.
“They did talk to me about playing for the Springboks but nothing official or anything. The focus was just to finish the Top 14,” Elstadt confirmed to AFP.
“There was nothing said like ‘after the season I could play for them’ nothing at all. For Cheslin [Kolbe] and myself we just gave our everything to the Top 14.”
Toulouse captain Jerome Kaino believes that Elstadt and Kolbe have both “got a huge chance of making the South Africa squad”.
“Rynhardt is just a machine, he’s been great for us, he can run all day,” Kaino said, who faced the Boks in 15 Tests for the All Blacks.
“I’ve been in a proud position to sit back and to watch them perform and to also see Kolbe get a call-up to the Springboks squad,” he added in reference to Kolbe’s Springbok debut in September 2018 after scoring 10 tries in his first season with Toulouse.
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Kaino wants as many of his Toulouse teammates involved at this year’s World Cup in Japan.
“Fingers crossed we get a lot more guys on the international level and the next couple of days hopefully we get more in Les Bleus,” he said following the 24-18 victory over Clermont on Saturday.
“The next step for us is to develop and to challenge the rest of our group to get honours and get to as many guys in international teams, whether it’s France, South Africa or other teams,” the 81-time All Black added.
