Lood de Jager is back and it's scary ... but not for Rassie Erasmus' Springboks

It was clear from the very first kickoff in the Springboks’ match against the Barbarians that Lood de Jager was keen to make up for lost time in the green and gold jersey.

Saturday saw De Jager run out for the Springboks for the first time in almost two years after missing out on the Rugby World Cup squad due to a heart condition.

He got back on the rugby field with Japan side Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan in 2024, playing some good rugby, but suffered a serious rotator-cuff shoulder injury towards the end of the season which required surgery.

Ahead of the match against the Barbarians, coach Rassie Erasmus said he didn’t want to put any extra pressure on De Jager following such a long absence from international rugby.

“It is kind of like a car that’s been parked in the garage. You don’t pick up mileage, but you will be a bit rusty. I am very excited for Lood. He thought it was all over (for his Bok career), and he won’t play again. But here he is and hopefully, he gets a good run.”

But De Jager looked really keen to make up for lost time, climbing into the Barbarians with strong carries and a few big hits on defence. He also marshalled the Bok lineout well and stole plenty of the Baabaas’ balls.

The former South African Rugby Player of the Year also impressed during the Boks’ recent fitness and conditioning tests in Johannesburg and looks in really good shape ahead of more demanding assignments in the Rugby Championship later this season.

“The condition that he had was almost career-ending, but when we did the fitness testing three weeks ago, he was exceptional,” Erasmus said after the match. “His body might be 32 or 33, but he has had some two or three years ‘rest’ in the last couple of years, and I think that showed.

“Lood is experience, he’s got a cool head. We’re very glad Lood came through it, and we have some nice depth at lock now.”

De Jager’s fitness and form is massive for the Boks, and their lock stocks look really good, even with Jean Kleyn’s injury, that will rule him out for the Tests against Italy and Georgia.

Bok legend Eben Etzebeth, Leinster beast RG Snyman and Bulls lock Ruan Norje should soon be back in the mix, while Franco Mostert came off the bench against the Barbarians. Stormers No 4 Salmaan is also part of the Bok squad.

It’s certainly a scary proposition for the Springboks’ opponents going forward.

@JohnGoliath82