VIDEO: Boks won't 'overheat' in Europe
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks are literally turning up the heat in their build-up to the year-end tour.
The advance guard of South Africa’s national team gathered in Stellenbosch on Sunday – with the overseas-based Boks, along with those from Western Province and the Sharks, set to join them after the Currie Cup Final on Saturday.
One of the players who is already training in the searing heat in Stellenbosch, seasoned lock Lodewyk de Jager, said the difference between the conditions they are training and those they will be playing in won’t affect them.
The Western Cape has been in the grip of a heat wave for the last few days and the temperature soared to a staggering 37°C on Monday.
In stark contrast, the Boks will be met with overcast and cold conditions when the arrive in London this coming weekend, while the temperature will barely be getting out of single digits as they build up to the opening Test against England at Twickenham on November 3.
“It has been hot,” De Jager said of the Stellenbosch conditions, adding: “Going to Europe, we will definitely not ‘overheat’ there.”
The 25-year-old, who has been sidelined since May with a torn pectoral muscle, said training in the extreme heat has been good preparations for the four-Test tour.
“The guys are just so amped and ready to go,” he said, adding: “I think they will train in 100°C just to be training with the Boks. It is good to see.”
De Jager, like his teammates, is ever more excited to start playing again, after his lengthy injury lay-off – which saw him miss all 10 of the Springboks’ Test matches so far this year.
The big second row forward sustained the torn pectoral muscle in May, when he played for the Pretoria-based Bulls in a Super Rugby fixture against the Sharks.
De Jager, who underwent surgery on May 18, is keen to add to his 36 Test caps for South Africa and said he loves every moment of being back in the Springbok setup.
Lodewyk added: “It was great to see the guys displaying so much courage to fight back and win the first two Tests against England, and in the Castle Lager Rugby Champs they tried a few combinations, and it was fantastic to watch them against the All Blacks and beat the Wallabies.” pic.twitter.com/6ajI9HBiYD
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) October 24, 2018
“Awesome,” he beamed.
“I must say it was a very weird feeling sitting at home watching the guys play in the June series and in the Rugby Championship.
“It was great to see the guys displaying so much courage to fight back every time to eventually win those two Tests and clinching that series against England.
“Then, in the Rugby Championship, you could see Rassie was trying a few combinations but once the guys managed to hit their stride, it was just fantastic to watch them in those two matches against the All Blacks and that win over the Wallabies.”
De Jager bolsters the outstanding Springbok second row stocks even further.
In Stellenbosch he joined the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Rudolph Snyman and Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock and flank) at the training camp, where the Boks have been sweating it out on the field and in the gym since Monday.
“I reckon it’s great for us as locks and obviously the Springboks that we have such quality second rowers in the squad,” said De Jager.
“The competition amongst us are fantastic and that’s what you want as a player, it is something that spurs you on so that you always give it your best.”
Source: @Springboks
Big Lodewyk de Jager, SA Rugby Player of the Year in 2015, is keen to add to his 36 Test caps and said he loves every moment of being back in the Springbok setup. “Awesome,” he beamed broadly when asked to describe how he felt to be back after a long spell on the sidelines. pic.twitter.com/OwWi6oxQJT
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) October 24, 2018
