Ruan missed the Bok life

Dynamic Lions and Springbok wing Ruan Combrinck (above) admitted it wasn’t easy not being part of the Springbok set-up over the last month.

Combrinck has been making his way back after a shoulder operation last year and had a delayed return to Super Rugby only featuring in the Bulls and Kings games before the June break.

But he believed he is getting back to where he wants to be after also playing for the Golden Lions in the SuperSport Challenge and the SA A team against the French Barbarians over the last month.

“It does burn inside of you not being part of that Bok setup and if it doesn’t you shouldn’t play rugby,” said Combrinck this week. “But I have at least had a few games now.”

The 27-year-old Combrinck, who played in seven of the 12 Bok Tests of last season scoring three tries, said this week feels in many ways for him like his real start to the season.

“But this week feels a bit different, but not quite sure why,” said Combrinck.

“There’s been so many things happening in rugby and also emotionally and it feels like everything is cleared now.”

With 10 Lions having featured for the Boks in the three Tests against France, Combrinck said they have injected some real spirit into the camp this week.

“The spirit the guys have brought back from the Boks, it feels different. It feels special, it feels how it should,” he said.

“We will just stick to what we know (against the Sunowlves) and to our processes and hopefully we’ll come away with the result,’’ he added.