VIDEO: Esterhuizen patiently waiting for Nienaber's call
REACTION: Andre Esterhuizen is hoping to hear from Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber in the near future.
The powerhouse centre only has eight Test caps to his name and the last time he put on a Bok jersey was against Argentina in August 2019.
Since then, Esterhuizen has become one of Premiership Rugby’s top performers and helped his club Harlequins win the 2020/2021 title.
The 27-year-old has been outstanding so far in the 2021/2022 season, winning numerous man-of-the-match awards.
It was no different on Sunday in Harlequins’ 20-17 win over Gloucester. Esterhuizen carried the ball 15 times and gained 80 metres on the field. He made two clean breaks and beat eight defenders in the match.
During the post-match interview, Esterhuizen hinted at his desire to play for the Springboks again.
When asked if the Bok coach has been in touch, Esterhuizen responded: “No, nothing recently.
“Hopefully someday. Let’s see what happens.”
Esterhuizen is flourishing in the Harlequins system.
“I think it’s just the way we play at the moment,” he said.
“Obviously winning makes it a lot easier, but I am enjoying the people around me and the fun we have on and off the field.
“That’s the thing that drives me at the moment.”
‘He’s a complete player’
Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson had plenty of praise for Esterhuizen after Sunday’s win.
“We love the way he is playing because he is just so abrasive on the carry and he is so hard to mark,” said Matson.
“We often get go-forward [ball] off the back of him, and it creates success for our attack.
“Defensively you don’t see the miles he runs off the ball away from the camera and when he is on the ball, he can be pretty devastating.
“And he counter rucks really well. It’s probably a part of the game we don’t always see, but he’s a complete player.”
Watch the full Andre Esterhuizen and Tabai Matson interviews below:
🔥 “A maestro who plays to the line and then you have a juggernaut!”
🔗 Tabai Matson is loving the Marcus Smith x Andre Esterhuizen combination.
🎥 @btsportrugby #COYQ #GLOvHARpic.twitter.com/yPMGU55BsB
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) January 2, 2022
