The Springboks have confirmed an opportunity for two standout players from the Lions to join the world champions and “kick the door down”.
Outside backs Erich Cronjé and Henco van Wyk trained with the Boks this week in the build-up to Saturday’s third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at FNB Stadium.
They both featured prominently for the Pride in a 41-35 defeat to the All Blacks on 25 August.
Van Wyk was first invited to a Bok alignment camp in early 2024, before a serious knee injury required surgery and ended the 25-year-old’s season.
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It was the first experience of the national team set-up for the 29-year-old Cronjé, who scored the Lions’ fourth of five tries against New Zealand at Ellis Park two weeks ago.
“If you remember the game when the Lions played the All Blacks, there were a couple of laaities who really had a great game,” Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said during a press conference in Joburg on Friday.
“A guy like Van Wyk, he’s always been in our talks when it comes to debating [selection]. He was just unlucky, maybe two seasons back, when he had an injury and missed a big part of his season.”
Van Wyk also made history representing a Stick-coached South Africa A side against Irish club Munster at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in 2022.
“Some guys get an opportunity from the alignment camps to understand how we operate,” the Bok coach added. “But because we were based in Joburg, we saw a good opportunity for them to just come and train with the guys.
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“I have to be honest and say you never know about the future. We always say that if the players kick the door down and they’re playing well and keep knocking, they will probably get their opportunities.
“When I look at those two gentlemen, Erich also the way he’s so confident – put him at 13, put him on the wing – they just fearlessly express themselves.
“Maybe it’s something they’re doing well at the Lions. You can see the way they play, they play with confidence.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Boks let in Lions ‘laaities’ who keep knocking appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Springboks have confirmed an opportunity for two standout players from the Lions to join the world champions and “kick the door down”.
The post Boks let in Lions ‘laaities’ who keep knocking appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
