Ruan Nortjé says Boks are all systems go for Georgia
Siya Kolisi, Ruan Nortjé and Eben Etzebeth have all been selected for the Georgia match. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Springbok lock Ruan Nortjé said that while he is personally excited to be in Mbombela, a place close to his heart, the team have geared up for a tough and physical match against Georgia on Saturday.
South Africa and the European nation have only ever played each other twice to date.
The Springboks beat Georgia convincingly 46–19 in their 2003 Rugby World Cup pool game. Eighteen years later, the South Africans won even more convincingly in a Test played at Loftus in July 2021, with the final score 40–9. Bongi Mbonambi, Cobus Reinach, Kwagga Smith, Herschel Jantjies and Malcolm Marx all scored tries on the day.
While Nortjé missed this season's first friendly against the Barbarians and first Test match against Italy, he got his seventh cap in the second Test against Italy in Gqeberha on the weekend, which the Springboks won 45–0 despite being a player down for an hour.
Boks amped for Georgia
The Springboks will play their Test against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium this weekend, before a three-week break in the build-up to the Rugby Championship, which kicks off against Australia at Ellis Park on 16 August.
While Georgia are not expected to be the toughest opponents, there are a lot of boxes the Boks will want to tick before this all-important tournament. Nortjé was selected to start at five lock for the game.
'Saturday is behind us, it is in the past,' Nortjé said. 'We have a new job, and we know what a big challenge it is for us. We know the type of team Georgia are and the type of rugby they have played in the last year or two.'
The Bok lock says they are preparing for a physical and competitive match.
He said Mbombela is one of his favourite places to play at, memories of last year's Springboks–Argentina Rugby Championship game fresh in his mind. He played the full 80 minutes of the 48–7 win.
'The atmosphere was electric,' Nortjé said. He added that he was looking forward to embracing that environment again.
'Mbombela is a very special place, close to my heart. My wife and I love the Kruger National Park. Whenever we get a bit of off time, we love to come. It is just awesome to see how the people of Mbombela get behind the Springboks.'
Nortjé learns from more experienced Bok locks
On a personal note, the 26-year-old said he was humbled and grateful to train with more experienced Springbok locks.
'For me it is all about learning as much as possible. You have probably some of the best locks in the world here: Lood [de Jager], Eben [Etzebeth], Franco [Mostert], RG [Snyman].
'So for me it's a real honour to learn from those guys and grow my game personally and try to represent South Africa to the best of my ability.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
31 minutes ago
- Daily Maverick
Banyana Banyana run riot against Mali at Wafcon, sending clear message to title rivals
It took a couple of matches for Banyana Banyana to display their ruthlessness at the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations. A 4-0 win over Mali in their final group game has sent a clear message to South Africa's challengers in Morocco. Perhaps it was the criticism that they had not yet come to the party as the defending Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) champions. Maybe it was the frustration of being held to a 1-1 draw by Tanzania during their second match. Whatever triggered Banyana Banyana's 4-0 demolition of Mali in their final Wafcon group game, they have sent a clear message to their challengers at the continental showpiece: the champions are here and they will not easily relinquish their title — if at all. Stinging Banyana Much like a swarm of bees that has been provoked, the South Africans were all over Mali on Monday, 14 July. With both teams already qualified for the quarterfinals, the clash was to determine who would finish at the summit of Group C. In the end, it proved to be a non-contest as Banyana Banyana crushed the Malians to set up a quarterfinal tussle with Senegal. Two of South Africa's co-captains for Wafcon, midfielder Refiloe Jane and wing-back Lebohang Ramalepe, led the way in opening the floodgates at Oudja's Honneur Stadium. Mexico-based forward Hildah Magaia and starlet Ronnel Donnelly added gloss to the score with their second-half strikes. It was a satisfying result for Banyana Banyana, more so after their toiling against Tanzania and their workmanlike 2-0 win over Ghana in their opening Wafcon match. Against Mali, the South Africans were at their effervescent best as they struck down the previously high-flying Eagles, condemning the west Africans to a third-place finish. After the game, South Africa's coach, Desiree Ellis, said, 'We knew we were better than the first two games we played. We consistently work on what we need to improve — sometimes it doesn't happen overnight — but this game [against Mali] was a statement. A statement of intent and resilience, a statement of who we are. 'Everything [worked] … the movement off the ball, the quick passing, the rotations, the overloads… Plaudits should go to the technical team, they worked tirelessly on training [the team] even though we only had one training session before the Mali game. But we've consistently worked on getting better at certain things, and in this game we showed the quality we have.' Onwards and upwards With her team flexing its muscles at just the right time in the competition, four-time African women's coach of the year Ellis wants her players to build on the blistering performance they displayed against Mali. This is crucial, as either record Wafcon champions Nigeria (11 titles) or the formidable Zambia wait in the semifinals should the South Africans overcome Senegal. 'We need to use this [Mali win] to fuel ourselves and get even better. Because it does not matter the result, we're always looking for improvement,' said Ellis. 'We will keep working, not just on our finishing, but everything. Because there is no perfect game, there's always room for improvement. If we continue working, we'll get better at how we do it. 'Hopefully, we can take this Mali performance and push it up a notch in the knockout stages, because there are no second chances now — it's either you take your chances or you go home.' Wafcon quarterfinals One of the benefits of Banyana Banyana finishing first in Group C (with seven points to second-placed Ghana's four) is that they will remain at their original base for the tournament, the city of Oujda. Failure to win their group would have necessitated the South Africans relocating to Berkane, 60km from Oudja. Now the reigning African champions can enjoy the privilege of continuity as they prepare to take on Senegal. The quarterfinal clash takes place on Saturday, 19 July. Kickoff is at 9pm. The marquee fixture of the quarterfinals is definitely Friday's tussle between Nigeria and Zambia. Following their drubbing by Banyana Banyana, the Malians face another daunting opponent in the form of tournament host Morocco. The other quarterfinal is between the evenly matched Algeria and Ghana. DM
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Springbok Wiese banned for four matches over head butt
DURBAN - South Africa No 8 Jasper Wiese has been banned for four matches after head-butting Italy prop Danilo Fischetti in last weekend's Test victory in Gqeberha, World Rugby announced on Tuesday. The 29-year-old back-rower will miss a one-off Test against Georgia in Mbombela this Saturday and three Rugby Championship matches -- two at home to Australia and one against New Zealand in Auckland. Wiese will be available for selection when the Springboks face the All Blacks in Wellington on September 13, seven days after the first meeting between the sides. South Africa then face Argentina twice to complete their Rugby Championship schedule. They meet France, Italy, Ireland and Wales during a November tour to Europe. Wiese was red-carded after 22 minutes of the first half in the second Test against Italy when South Africa were leading by 10 points. The Rugby World Cup title-holders went to win Saturday's game 45-0. His place in the team to face Georgia this weekend will be taken by his younger brother, Cobus Wiese, who made his Test debut last Saturday. Jasper Wiese played for the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and Leicester Tigers before joining Japanese outfit Urayasu D-Rocks last year. dl/iwd
Daily Maverick
5 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Siya Kolisi back to lead new-look Boks against Georgia as Rassie continues to grow depth
Springbok flank Siya Kolisi will play his first Test of 2025 when he captains the side against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday. It's an indication of the Springboks' depth that despite naming three uncapped players for Saturday's clash against Georgia, the squad still boasts more than 900 Test caps. Captain Siya Kolisi returns with his 92 Test caps to bolster the stats, while there is a start for Cobus Wiese at No 8, which looks like the most interesting experiment in coach Rassie Erasmus' latest lineup. In all, the Bok starting XV, which includes an entirely uncapped front row of Boan Venter at loosehead, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché at tighthead, has 484 Test caps. Venter has impressed for Edinburgh this year, and Van der Merwe was one of the best players in a competitive Scarlets team during the United Rugby Championship. Their selection also highlights the excellent decision by the South African Rugby Union to allow the Bok coach to select overseas-based players. Eight of these 23 are registered to foreign clubs. The impressive Test cap number is bolstered by the return of lock Eben Etzebeth, who will earn his 133rd cap, while centre Damian de Allende also starts after sitting out the second Test against Italy. Last week, Erasmus favoured an inexperienced bench, with three uncapped players. This week, while the starting XV, outside of Kolisi, Etzebeth, De Allende (88 caps) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (87 caps), has limited experience, he has stacked the bench with proven winners. Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch and Thomas du Toit are the front row reserves. Lock RG Snyman returns, with Kwagga Smith covering the back row options in a traditional 5-3 split between forwards and backs. Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard provide vast halfback experience while two-time World Cup-winner Damian Willemse completes a formidable bench. With the three newbies, Erasmus has now awarded seven new caps in 2025. Kolisi's return means that the Boks have used 46 players this year already. They continue to build depth while winning. 'We wanted to make sure that Siya is 100% fit before selecting him, so it's great to have him back in the squad, while Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and deserve their chance,' said Erasmus. 'Marnus and Neethling played against the Barbarians, so they have an idea of what international rugby is about, while Boan has shown great potential at club level and with the squad in the last few weeks, and we are looking forward to seeing him play. 'Building squad depth has been one of our pillars as a squad since 2018, and they are all undoubtedly ready to make the step-up.' Wiese for Wiese Jasper Wiese, who was red-carded against Italy at the weekend for a headbutt, has been given a four-match ban by World Rugby's disciplinary tribunal. He will miss the next four Bok Tests, which include two home contests against Australia, and the 6 September clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park. He was impressive in the first Test against Italy at Loftus, gaining metres with every carry while also making himself felt in defence. But his moment of madness in the second Test has cost him and the team, and the Boks must now improvise at No 8 if they want the same ball-carrying threat. Cobus Wiese, who started his career at the Stormers as a flank, has been used at lock at the Bulls this season. But he showed enough in the last 20 minutes of the second Test against Italy to suggest a return to the back row might not be a bad move. He was prominent in the loose with some strong carries. The Wieses don't mind the physical stuff. While Cobus Wiese isn't as quick as Evan Roos or Smith, he does pack a punch in contact and can set the tone for winning the gain line battle. It's a huge opportunity for Cobus Wiese, considering everything leads to that massive showdown at Eden Park without Jasper Wiese. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also starts in a Test for the first time since last August, when he led the line against the All Blacks, and has a chance to shine. Manie Libbok's polished performance last week, which was a masterclass in creating opportunities for his outside backs, must give him the inside line for the big Tests later this year. With Aphelele Fassi back at fullback, the return of Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe completing the back three, the attacking potential is salivating. Canan Moodie gets another go at outside centre as Erasmus looks for depth in a position that has belonged exclusively to Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am for the better part of seven years. While the level of the opposition this week and the gulf in class, with all due respect, is below what will come later in the year, the players need to show the coaches that they can stick to the plan and stay on script. The game has the potential to devolve into an unstructured runaround, which might be fun to watch but will serve little purpose in the bigger picture. Essentially, the players have more to lose than they have to gain in this outing. 'We know how passionate and intense this Georgian side is, and they will be determined to make a strong statement,' said Erasmus. 'So we selected some experienced players who we would like to get more game time before the Rugby Championship, and give a few of the younger players who have put up their hands another run … so we are pleased with the balance we have in this group.' DM
