World Cup-winning lock Lood de Jager says he’s grateful to be back in the Springbok camp and champing at the bit to tackle the Barbarians in Cape Town next Saturday.
After nearly two years out of the Test arena, De Jager is set to pull on the green and gold again when the world champions face the invitational outfit at Cape Town Stadium.
De Jager has spent the past two weeks in Johannesburg training with the national squad, eager to resume his international career after missing the 2023 World Cup due to a heart condition, followed by a nine-month shoulder layoff.
“It’s good to be back,” De Jager said during a Springbok conference this week. “It was tough to be on the outside, but I had my family and kids to keep me occupied so that I didn’t overthink things.
“The biggest thing for me was that I felt I could still contribute to the team. It was just to get healthy and get my body right. That was my biggest motivation: to get back here.”
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The 32-year-old said reconnecting with teammates helped ease his transition: “The easy part was being with good friends again, seeing the guys and training with them. It is great talking about old stories with them.”
De Jager credited his recovery to focused rehab and a more manageable schedule in Japan, where he plays domestic rugby for the Saitama Wild Knights. “The season in the Japanese Top League is spaced out, so we have enough rest weekends,” he explained.
“It’s helped keep my body fresh. The league has also grown significantly and is very competitive.”
Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Franco Mostert and Ruan Nortje have been a tower of strength in the second row for Rassie Erasmus’ charges in De Jager’s absence, and the former Cheetahs and Vodacom Bulls skyscraper acknowledged the growing competition for places in the Bok engine room.
“There is a lot of depth at lock at the moment, and Ruan stepped up nicely last season against the All Blacks with that injury crisis,” he said. “Things are now very competitive for that lock position. We push each other, and it’s a great thing.”
With the Springboks set to play 14 Tests in 2025, De Jager was asked which one he’s most looking forward to, and jokingly replied: “The next one!
“Rassie has a great plan for the year and how it pans out,” he added. “You want to be involved in every Test match, because it is big.
“We have some big ones coming up, especially against New Zealand away and France and Ireland. But you can’t look past any game.
“We are playing the Barbarians, and they are putting together a world-class team. We don’t know what to expect. We are focusing on that right now. I just want to give my best.”
Photo: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
