‘Ed Sheeran cheered me up after defeat’
1. What’s your pre-training routine?
I try to get a coffee before training. I get outside early and go through my warm-up. It’s a routine I go through to make sure my body is ready to go.
2. You’re in charge of the aftermatch tunes, what goes on first?
I would just go to Spotify and see what’s hot at the moment. My taste differs to the boys in the dressingroom.
3. Imagine a world that you’re not a rugby player – what’s your job?
Farming vegetables and dairy in South Africa.
4. Stranded on a deserted island, what three things do you take?
A Leatherman knife, a box of matches and a newspaper so I could light a fire.
5. Which team-mate would you want with you and why?
Jean Kleyn, he could do more than the Leatherman can do.
6. What’s your favourite Instagram page you follow and why?
Agriculture Technique, it’s a lot of tractors and different farming techniques from around the world. I learn a lot there.
7. What do you do when not training or playing a match?
I work in the garden or spend time with my wife. I got a PlayStation recently and I play Farm Simulator on that. It’s not as intense as Fortnite or some of the other games the guys play.
8. What’s your first sporting memory as a player or spectator?
When I was five I watched the 1995 Rugby World Cup. I just remember sitting in a chair but I can’t remember who was playing.
9. You have one moment from your career to do over. What is it?
I would go back to Chicago for the New Zealand game and enjoy it again.
10. What rugby skill would you most like to possess?
Kicking. I wish I could get back and kick. But if I was there getting ready to kick I can imagine people would just close their eyes.
11. Favourite song lyric?
My favourite song lyric is a song in Afrikaans that is about family. It says family is like blood, you need to protect them. It’s difficult to translate.
12. What current player in your position do you most admire?
There are a few in my position. Kieran Read is always pushing boundaries and it’s good to learn from that.
13. What former coach has had the biggest effect on your game and why?
Johann van Graan because he used to coach me at the Bulls as well. He taught me a lot of skills that I am
One of the only cars in the world that a bird can’t s*** on the back window because it goes at an angle
still using to this day.
14. What was your first car?
My first car was a Ford Anglia. It was old but a classic. It was a 1962 and one of the only cars in the world that a bird can’t s*** on the back window because it goes at an angle.
15. What sporting event makes your bucket list?
I would actually like to go and watch a Yankees baseball game. Ever since the Cubs won the World Series I wanted to go watch a baseball game.
16. One minute it go in the Champions Cup final, your team is four points down back on your own line. What do you do?
Keep the ball and go through the phases. Stick to our game-plan, put them under pressure and hopefully there is some magic from someone. I am just thinking back to Toulon when Andrew Conway got that ball and scored. Hopefully there is something like that. But it would come down to keeping the ball for 100 metres.
17. What was the last concert you went to?
Ed Sheeran in Dublin just after the PRO14 semi-final loss against Leinster. It cheered me up a bit.
18. Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am actually funny in Afrikaans. People don’t know that.
19. What’s your best memory playing rugby for your team?
When I made my Champions Cup debut against Toulon in 2013-14.
20. Who’ll win the 2019 PRO14, Champions Cup and Rugby World Cup?
This is a tough one. I am going to back Munster for the PRO14. Champions Cup, I would say Munster again. World Cup is an open one. I’ll just say Ireland.