VIDEO: Fassi 'knew what he was fighting for'

SPOTLIGHT – LONDON: Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi is the perfect example of hard work paying off.

The 26-year-old will start in the No.15 jersey against England at Twickenham on Saturday and will have a big battle against high-ball extraordinaire Freddie Steward.

It’s a big stage for the Fassi and it hasn’t been an easy journey.

After breaking into the Bok squad in 2021, Fassi struggled with his form in the following years and he was deemed surplus to requirements.

However, a strong campaign with the Sharks in the 2023/2024 season paved the way for Fassi to return to the Bok set-up and he has grabbed each opportunity with both hands.

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“I am so happy for him,” said Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.

“He was in the group and then he wasn’t. That is hard here.

“You know exactly what you need to do and you know why you don’t get called back into the group. There are no grey areas, it is just black and white.

“He could’ve given up, but he played and he had to fight.

“I remember when I was in France, I was talking to him over the phone and he really wanted to get back into the team.

“The great thing about this group is that he can call coach [Mzwandile] Stick anytime and Stick will send him a message about what he needs to work on.

“I didn’t know, but I saw a story about him wearing his Springbok jersey under his Sharks jersey in every game.

“He knew what he was fighting for and he knows what it feels like to be here and to lose it. Now he is going to fight as hard as he can.

“It is not easy to become a Springbok, but it is much harder to stay one.

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Assistant coach Stick said Fassi will be ready for the aerial challenge England will throw at him.

“Fassi has grown into our system.

“Two or three years ago, he was part of our squad and then he didn’t get a chance to come back.

“I see growth in his own personal space as a human being and that is one thing I enjoy about him.

“We are trying to build our squad depth and Fassi is pushing and competing with a guy like Willie [le Roux].

“He also has that confidence to bring his X-factor.

“Saturday is going to be a big challenge for him. He is playing against Freddie Steward who is probably one of the best under the high balls.

“We know he is going to be challenged.”

@rugby365com