VIDEO: Back to Bloem for Beast replica Mchunu

SPOTLIGHT: Author and poet George Macdonald once wrote: ‘A beast does not know that he is a beast, and the nearer a man gets to being a beast, the less he knows it’.

Maybe that can be true for Ntuthuko Mchunu, who has been likened to Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira due to his heroics in the scrums, but the big Sharks prop says he just needs to be Ntuthuko.

Especially now that he is returning to the same field where he made his Springbok debut, against Wales, two years ago.

The Free State Stadium always seems to be reserved for the big historical moments.

Back in 2022, Wales beat the Springboks after they won a proper arm-wrestle by 13-12 in Bloemfontein and squared up the Incoming Series at 1-1.

This weekend will be another historical moment when South Africa not only faces Portugal for the first time ever, but a women’s referee will also officiate the match, Holly Davidson – also a first for the Boks.

Mchunu joined that game against Wales from the bench in the 50th minute (replacing Thomas Du Toit) together with Deon Fourie (for Evan Roos) and Rynhardt Elstadt (for Marcell Coetzee).

He earned his second Springbok cap in June this year, once more against Wales at Twickenham.

Mchunu certainly has the make-up to step into the big boots of the Beast one day.

Lately, he has caught the eye of the Tik-Tokkers for his massive hits, like those on Johan Goossen and Embrose Papier recently.

But in 2021, as a 21-year-old, he announced himself to the rugby public with a wonderful try for the Sharks against the Lions in Johannesburg when he launched a dazzling run from 52m out.

Since then, he has been a regular in the Sharks’ matchday squad and he seldom disappoints.

When asked about people referring to him as the ‘next Beast’ at the team hotel in Bloemfontein on Monday, the big man just smiled and said in a soothing baritone voice: “It’s been said a lot but I think Beast in his own right has set a path in South Africa for anyone who plays in a similar position and has set the bar really high with his accolades,” he said.

“So if I am halfway there it will be really good but I want to be my own player. I enjoy running with the ball, I love scrumming and defending.

“So I want to be a player in my own way. Obviously, I am honoured to be almost put together with the likeness of someone who has done so well for the country.

“It’s good but it doesn’t really do anything.

“I want to be Ntuthuko more than anything.”

Mchunu said it was good to be back in Bloemfontein, and that he feels he has grown since he made that debut two years ago.

“I think a lot of growth has happened over the past two years. Maturity is what we are looking for this weekend.

“Regardless of who we play, it’s a big game in the Springbok jersey,” Mchunu said.

The team to face Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday will be announced on Tuesday but all indications are that the big Sharks prop will return to Bloemfontein in the Green and Gold and hopefully have a better outcome this time round.