Lood barges his way back into the starting side
● Lood de Jager doesn’t need to be in Japan to stride like a giant.
It would be a gross understatement to suggest he’s been big here.
He juts 2.05m out of his socks, but isn’t defined by his physical dimensions. His performances, though, have been massive.
He was some distance off coach Rassie Erasmus’s best starting XV when the Boks departed Johannesburg for Singapore and then Tokyo at the start of their campaign. Much of De Jager’s season has been spent in the company of physiotherapists trying to mend his shoulder, again.
He was operated on in March and initial reports suggested he would be out for the season. De Jager missed the remainder of Super Rugby and was managed very carefully after he was restored to fitness, marking his return to the Boks with a try against Australia at Ellis Park in July.
“The injuries are always a difficult thing, especially when you have to come back from two serious shoulder injuries. It is mentally tough. But it is nice to be back in the group again,” said De Jager shortly after the Boks beat Italy.
His restoration to the starting team was well earned in the most eagerly contested position in the team. Coach Rassie Erasmus wanted to up the stakes in physicality against the Italians and for that he needed his biggest men. Apart from being an exceptional lineout operator, he packs considerable punch in the collisions.
“There is very good competition (for places) in all the positions,” noted De Jager. “Everybody has to work hard and it brings the best out of you. It is good.
“The competition is healthy. It’s not as if the guys are jealous of each other.
“Everybody wants the team to do the best it can. If you are not playing, you still have to prepare the best you can. We are a group of 31 players and we want to win the RWC.
“We do what we have to, to achieve that.” Erasmus has a carefully mapped out plan for his team and so far they’re not too far off course.
Victory over the All Blacks in the opening game would have been a further fillip, but it would appear whether you top Pool B or not will not have as big an impact in the quality
It is mentally tough. But it is nice to be back in the group again
If you are not playing, you still have to prepare the best you can
of opponent in the quarterfinals as initially thought. “It doesn’t matter who you play in the quarters and the final,” he underlined the point.
De Jager said the Boks are in a good space.
“We shouldn’t think too far ahead. We have to beat Canada. This is what it is. You have to win four games in a row to win the RWC.”
He is enjoying Japan. He can see further than most. “I’m enjoying the people. They are very hospitable. They help where they can. The food is great especially when you move out of your comfort zone and try new things. It’s lekker.”