The Springboks wrapped up their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg where they continued to put in the hard yards for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, and the excitement among the three Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship winners was etched on their faces after what they described as an opportunity of a lifetime.

Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste, and Haashim Pead were invited to train with the senior team for the last two weeks in line with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ plans to continue building squad depth and nurturing the young talent for the future, and both the coach and players were pleased with what they gained from the experience.

“It was fantastic to have Bathobele, Cheswill, and Haashim with us, and it was impressive to see their enthusiasm and the way they grabbed the opportunity with both hands on and off the field,” said Erasmus.

“We were very pleased with the way they slotted into the training sessions and used the time to interact with the Springbok players and learn from them, even though we made it clear that there was no pressure on them to grasp all our structures and systems. It was rather an opportunity for them to experience how we operate in the team and to expose them to what is required to perform at this level, and they certainly embraced the opportunity.

“It was good to see how they took the time to understand our structures, and how they used this chance to engage with the players on a one-on-one basis.”

Erasmus added: “They all have bright futures, and we hope the experience they gained, and the lessons learned will set them in good stead, as they look to further develop their careers and strive to reach this level in the coming years.”

Reflecting on the occasion, the three Junior Boks said it inspired them immensely to keep giving their best and that it motivated them even more to make the step-up to this level.

“The past two weeks with the Boks have been incredible,” said Jooste, who still played for the SA U18s last year.

“As a Junior Bok, it was a privilege to be among the best, and although it was tough, I learned a lot. I walk away with new insights, more confidence and an even greater hunger to grow.

“It was particularly memorable for me to be inspired and motivated by the players I look up to and who are already where I’d like to be. They didn’t only share their knowledge, but also their energy and spirit of unity.

“I’d like to thank everyone who made this experience possible. I am truly grateful for every lesson, every tip, and every piece of encouragement. This is just the beginning.”

Pead, who was in his second season with the Junior Boks this year, echoed these sentiments and said the experience has been “amazing”.

“I’ve learnt valuable lessons, and the experience I gained will truly go a long way,” said Pead, who was second on the list of top try scorers at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

“Thanks to the coaches and players. I believe I have grown in the last two weeks, and with these high standards, it definitely motivated me to give my absolute best so that I can reach the level they are at.

“I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and I hope that there many more of these to come in the future. It made me realise that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I’ll certainly take all the lessons and apply it to my game, and hopefully I’ll keep growing and become a better rugby player and human being.”

Hlekani, who also played for the Junior Boks last year, cherished every moment of the camp, and thanked the Springboks for the opportunity.

“It was very special, and I learned a lot from the forwards as well as the coaching staff,” said Hlekani.

“The last two weeks have allowed me to improve the techniques I was lacking in, and the intensity of the training sessions were very high, which was great for us.

“I’ll definitely take what I learned and use it to improve my game, and hopefully we’ll get another opportunity like this in future. I’m going to keep pushing, stay hungry, and hopefully one day I’ll be part of this squad.”

The Springboks returned home on Thursday afternoon to spend time with their families, and will reassemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, where their focus will squarely be on trying to begin their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign on a strong note against Australia in the hope of defending the title they won last season for the first time since 2019.

The Tests against Australia, in Johannesburg on 16 August and in Cape Town on 23 August, will be followed by back-to-back matches against New Zealand in Auckland and Wellington (on 6 and 13 September respectively), before wrapping up their campaign with Tests against Argentina in Durban and London (on 27 September and 4 October). Tickets for the local Tests are available from Ticketmaster.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications