VIDEO: Four years later, everything is easier says Bok hooker

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi reflects on how far the Springboks have come the last four years and how boring life would be if no-one had expectations of them.

The 32-year-old has come a long way from barely making the 2019 World Cup squad to number one status. And that says a lot if you think he had to compete with Hulk-like, try-scoring machine Malcolm Marx for the number two jersey.

To be honest, there was a time back in 2018, after his appendix burst, that the Springbok hooker didn’t even think he would be on the plane to Japan for the 2019 World Cup.

Throughout his early career in domestic rugby, he was constantly fighting the stigma that he ‘can’t throw’.

The overthrow into a defensive line-out in the 2018 Rugby Championship that cost the Springboks the game against Australia had him almost written off and didn’t make things easier for the 32-year-old hooker.

Mbonambi made his Test debut against Ireland in June 2016, coming off the bench to replace then captain Adriaan Strauss.

His first Test start came against Italy in November 2017.

He came off the bench in the opening match of the 2019 World Cup against New Zealand, but was the Boks’ starting hooker by the end of the tournament.

Wrestling the number two jumper from Marx from the start of the World Cup to the final, shows the guts, determination and perseverance of the man.

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As the Springboks gathered in preparation for the first Test against Australia at Loftus next weekend, things are very different to four years ago.

“Four years ago was a completely different story. We were a bunch of new players coming together with a new coaching team and fresh plans, so it took longer to prepare and become aligned,” the hooker told a media briefing this week.

“This season we are finding our rhythm and aligning quicker, as we have known one another for four years longer, and we know what the coaches expect from us,” Mbonambi said.

“South African rugby fans don’t only have expectations of us in a World Cup year, it’s the same for every game we play,” said Mbonambi.

“We feel the expectations, but we don’t see it as pressure, we see it as an honour and a privilege.

“Of course we feel nervous, but we are also excited. If there was no expectations, life would be pretty boring.”