Van Heerden soaking up Test debut feeling

Former Junior Springbok lock Ruben van Heerden was still smiling broadly on Thursday about being entrusted by Bok coach Rassie Erasmus to make his Test debut against Wales, and said he could not wait for the occasion.

The Test, which is the Boks’ final home match in the inaugural Nations Championship, kicks off at 5.40pm at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

The towering lock, who carved his path from the SA U18 team to the Junior Springboks between 2015 and 2017 and ran out for the SA ‘A’ team against Zimbabwe in Gqeberha a few weeks ago, said he was still in awe after being named in the team.

“I don't really know how to describe it,” said van Heerden.

“It's been a whirlwind of a ride since I got the call to join the Springboks. At this stage, I'm not really too nervous, although perhaps the nerves will come but I'm very excited for Saturday.

“Everyone walks a different path and has a different journey, so I'm trying not to overthink anything. I'm just grateful for the opportunity and hoping to make the most of it when it comes.”

Of the journey to get to this point, Van Heerden said he never thought making his Bok debut would be out of reach.

“It has probably always been more of a goal,” he said.

“As Malcolm (Marx – Bok hooker) said, it's a big privilege, so it’s a matter of trying to do your best and control the controllables. If it happens, it happens, and in this case, it's happening for me now, and I'm very grateful for it.”

With Van Heerden making his Test debut alongside Vusi Moyo (flyhalf), Carlu Sadie (prop), and Jaco Williams (wing) in a match-23 featuring several double Rugby World Cup winners, he said it brought a sense of calm and excitement to the occasion.

“It's exciting playing alongside some of the double World Cup winners and then having three other guys making their debuts as well,” he said.

“You know you're not the only one, which is comforting. When I'm on the field on Saturday, and I look around me and see someone in the same position as I’m in, and at the same time get to draw inspiration from guys who have been there and done it, it makes it an occasion to look forward to.”

The Springboks will wrap up their training for the match on Friday at their captains’ run after having Thursday off to rest and get ready for the encounter.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), 6 Paul de Villiers; 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Damian Willemse.

Wales starting XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams; 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams; 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann; 5 Adam Beard, 4 Teddy Williams; 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (capt), 1 Rhys Carre. Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 James Botham, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Joe Hawkins.

South Africa v Wales @ Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban 5.40pm

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), James Doleman (NZR)

Television Match Official: Glenn Newman (NZR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)