Julian eager to show Wallabies a thing or two
Bok tighthead prop back in mix after recovering from injury
AFTER missing out on all the Springbok matches since the opening Rugby Championship encounter with Argentina‚ tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys is itching to get onto the park in the green and gold.
Redelinghuys has the all-clear to play against the Wallabies in their Test match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in Nelspruit last month when the Boks edged out Los Pumas 30-23.
The Boks have gone on to suffer defeats in the three Tests that followed – being beaten by Argentina in Salta‚ Australia in Brisbane and the All Blacks in Christchurch.
The 27-year-old burly front-rower is looking to make a positive contribution this weekend as the Boks hope to bounce back and keep their impeccable record at Loftus‚ should he be given a run by coach Allister Coetzee.
“It’s awesome to be back. Being out gives you a bit of perspective‚ then you realise how much you love it [being part of the Springboks]‚” Redelinghuys said.
“If I get the opportunity this weekend‚ I’d love to just do my part for the team.”
After being out of action for five weeks nursing the hamstring injury sustained at Mbombela Stadium on August 20‚ Redelinghuys was given an opportunity to get some game time under his belt when Coetzee released him to his provincial side‚ the Golden Lions‚ to play in the Currie Cup last weekend.
The Lions dominated the Eastern Province Kings in that game scoring 11 tries to one for a 71-7 win in Port Elizabeth. The prop made a valuable contribution with close to 45 minutes of play in the match.
He is now hoping to make a similar contribution as the Boks want to reverse the 17-23 defeat to Australia from three weeks ago.
“It was nice to get back on the park playing with the Lions guys‚” the prop said. “They are in a difficult situation now‚ where it’s knockout rugby for them‚ so it was an awesome game to get back into and just being on the park again.
“I got my 45 minutes [of play] and the hamstring is feeling great.”
Redelinghuys expects a tough forwards battle against the Aussies this weekend‚ particularly at scrum time.
After having to watch the defeat in Brisbane on television‚ the prop picked up areas where the Wallabies could pose a threat.
“The Aussies do come with different tricks‚” he said.
“They try to do things at different places on the field. The most important thing for us is to focus on our job and do what we do well.”
What the Boks will be banking on is continuing with the good record they have at Loftus against the Australian side.
With an almost sold-out crowd expected‚ Redelinghuys has vowed to repay the faithful supporters with a positive outcome on Saturday.
“[Loftus is] very much similar to Ellis Park‚ if you think altitude‚” the Lions player said.
“We will give our best to give the fans a good showing. I think the Springboks are such a massive brand and we want to make it proud.” — TMG Sport