The bruiser who thought about 'giving up on the Boks'
SPOTLIGHT: Jean-Luc du Preez has been waiting a very long time for another Test start, and he wants to remind everyone about that fact.
The 30-year-old has been given the No.8 jersey for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the Wallabies in Cape Town. He will replace Siya Kolisi in that position, after the Bok captain was ruled out with a knee injury.
It will be Du Preez’s first Test start since he wore the No.7 jersey in a match against England at Ellis Park back in 2018.
His last appearance in a Test match was off the bench against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 2023.
It has been almost nine years since he made his Bok Test debut against Wales, and in that time, he has notched up a total of 14 caps. He also didn’t feature in the Springboks’ successful World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023.
Du Preez started in the No.8 jersey against the Barbarians in June this year, but that was not an official Test.
With opportunities in the Bok jersey few and far between, Du Preez admitted that he did question his future at Test level.
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“Your mind is a powerful thing, and there were times when I was thinking, ‘Should I just give up on the Springboks?'” Du Preez told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Test.
“But I would never be able to do that.
“It has taken me quite a while to start again – it has taken seven years.
“You can never take this for granted because when you get your shot, you need to make it count.”
With players like Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom unavailable, Du Preez just wants to go out there and make everyone proud.
“It’s my first Test start in seven years – that speaks for itself,” he said
“I would just like to do my best for the team and get us on the front foot, and hopefully we can do a good job.”
He added: I’ve been thinking quite a bit this week because of the result last week, and there is a lot of pressure on us and also for me to come in after not starting for seven years.
“I’ve just tried not to think about the outside noise too much. I’m just trying to get my prep right and then just do a proper job.”
Having played the BaaBaas at Cape Town Stadium, Du Preez is comfortable with the surroundings and the build-up to this week’s Test.
“Getting that run does help my confidence a little bit, although it was like two and a half months ago,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of prep and a lot of hard work and a lot has changed, but I am just so thankful for the opportunity to get a run on Saturday and represent my country again.”
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