VIDEO: From a Test to Currie Cup part of the job
VIDEO: Springbok flank Ruan Venter is back playing Currie Cup for the Lions and will face the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday after making his Test debut.
The young flank is still coming off the high of playing his first Test for the Springboks against Portugal in Bloemfontein last weekend but is back with his team, the Lions, getting ready for the fourth round of Currie Cup.
The Lions, at the top of the Currie Cup table at the moment, host the Sharks, who have endured three losses in a row in the competition thus far.
Venter has become a mainstay in the Lions pack following some very impressive performances over the last year or so which earned a Bok call-up.
In February last year, he lost his father, a man who played a big part in his playing career, and instead of bowing out of the United Rugby Championship game against Glasgow, he opted to play and dedicated the game to him.
He also scored a try in that match which was a very emotional moment for him.
Last week, after his first Test match, he said he made a promise to his father that he would play for the Springboks one day.
“Before my father passed away, I made a promise to him that I would do this for him one day,” Venter said after the Test in Bloemfontein.
“It was the build-up the whole week and being able to fulfill that promise and I know how much my father would’ve enjoyed watching me and how proud he would have been.
“It was an amazing moment for me and for my family as well.”
On Thursday he told the media at a Lions training session that he is hardly away from the Bok set up and he already misses it immensely.
“Being away from that environment makes you hungry to get back to that system.
“[There were] massive learnings and takeaways from training with guys like that.
“The little things they teach you, it was really good,” Venter said.
He explained how much he has grown as a player while being part of the Springbok setup and what he has learned through that experience.
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“How they emphasise the small detail, everybody knows their detail and exactly what they have to do.
“By the time Saturday comes, you know exactly what your job is and there is no confusion,” he said.
Venter said being back in the Currie Cup is just another opportunity for him to stay consistent and get as much game time under the belt.
“Once you’ve had a taste of it [Springbok rugby], now it is just about game time and being consistent in games.
“For me, it is going to be about getting in as much rugby as possible and now with the Currie Cup, do my best.
“And when the United Rugby Championship starts, it just flows into that.”
A promise well kept by @LionsRugbyCo’s Ruan Venter 🕊️✅#RSAvPOR pic.twitter.com/HwRk2GQogM
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) July 23, 2024
Talking about his first Test and the emotions he experienced, the behemoth of a flank said it was a day he would never forget.
“It was very emotional, a special moment, and something you dream of as a little kid. You never think you will actually be there.
“To be there in that stadium was a surreal feeling and something I will never forget.
“You go through so much preparation, by the time the game comes you know exactly what you need to do and when to do it.
“There is no time to think about it when you are stressed.
“The main thing in that system is the preparation.
“When you are there, they use that whole week just to focus on Saturday.
“Now it’s all focused on the Currie Cup.
“The challenge is to keep those standards,” he concluded.
