Full circle in Wales for Lions’ rising prop SJ Kotze
VIDEO: A little over a year ago, a promising young prop made his senior debut for the Lions in Wales, the same venue he now finds himself at ahead of their upcoming encounter in the United Rugby Championship against the Ospreys this weekend.
The 23-year-old former Junior Springbok, SJ Kotze, has grown in leaps and bounds since that day and has worked his way into a regular starting berth for the Lions.
He recently extended his contract with the Johannesburg outfit until 2029.
As one of the Lions’ most exciting young forwards, his mobility, work rate, and silky skills have already caught the eye of rugby pundits and fans, with some even calling him a flyhalf trapped in a prop’s body.
He had some impressive moments in the Currie Cup last season and hopes to build on that in the tougher world of the URC.
On Tuesday, Kotze and his longtime coach at the Lions, Wessel Roux, spoke to reporters from their base in Wales.
“If I look back at a year ago, same place as I am now, I made my debut – the player I was then and the player I am now, I have definitely learned a lot,” Kotze remembered.
“I am still learning, and that is the nice thing about this,” he said, adding, “I am just very privileged to be in the position I am today.”
He is looking forward to Springbok prop Boan Venter joining the Lions from Edinburgh next season, saying it will be the ideal opportunity to learn from one of the best in the business.
“I am in a very privileged position to have the opportunity to learn from someone like Boan. I see it as a positive to grow with him, while also acknowledging that there will be healthy competition.
“To work and learn from him can only benefit me.
“My goal is definitely the Green and Gold one day. I don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on myself too soon, so it’s just to give the best version of myself week in and week out.”
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Roux told reporters that hooker Franco Marais had a freak accident in one of their sessions in France and has flown back home due to a concussion.
The Lions have had precious little time to mourn their European exit as they shift their focus to the clash against the Ospreys.
The Lions’ courageous 20–20 stalemate with Perpignan underlined their growing resilience, but it ultimately brought more heartache than reward, with the French outfit edging into the Challenge Cup last 16 on points difference at the Johannesburg side’s expense.
With Europe now behind them, Ivan van Rooyen’s focus shifts firmly to the URC, where the Lions remain firmly in the play-off hunt. The standings are tightly packed and margins are slim, but Roux says the squad is refusing to be distracted by permutations and log calculations.
Sitting seventh, the Lions are nine points adrift of sixth-placed Munster, while holding a narrow cushion over Benetton and Ospreys, who both have games in hand. For Roux and his players, however, the message is simple: concentrate on performances, bank points where possible, and let the table take care of itself as the season unfolds.
“The log is very congested, and we’re not looking at too many permutations,” Roux said.
“It’s sometimes energy-sapping if you just think about all the mathematical equations. We are only focused on the Ospreys.
“It sounds like a cliché, but it’s just about taking it one game at a time.”
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