Jean-Luc du Preez participated in 13 Tests for the Springboks from 2016 to 2018, with only one appearance since, making this his first start since 2018.
Springbok loose forward Jean-Luc du Preez is eager for his first Test start in seven years after being selected as eighthman for the second Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Cape Town on Saturday.
Du Preez has faced a challenging journey in his nine-year career with the Springboks, often remaining on the outskirts of the squad, moving in and out but struggling to secure a permanent position.
Most of his 14 Test appearances came in 2017 when he played 10 times for the Boks. His last start was against England at Ellis Park in 2018, and by the end of that year, he had a total of 13 Test caps.
One Test since
Since then, Du Preez has made just one official Test appearance for the Boks in 2023 against Argentina, although he did take the field in a non-Test match against the Barbarians in Cape Town at the end of June.
With injuries affecting the Bok team, Du Preez sees this as a significant opportunity to solidify his position within the squad. He is committed to putting forth his best effort after a long journey back to starting contention.
“It’s actually my first Test start in seven years, so that speaks for itself. I would just like to do my best for the team and get us on the front foot. Hopefully we can do a good job on Saturday,” said Du Preez.
“Your mind is a powerful thing. There were times that I was thinking ‘should I just give up on the Springboks?’
“But I would never be able to do that. It’s taken quite a while for me to start again. You can never take this for granted, because when you get your shot, you need to make it count.”
High pressure game
The entire Springbok team faces significant pressure following their unexpected defeat against the Wallabies at Ellis Park last weekend. A victory is crucial for maintaining their aspirations in the Rugby Championship as they prepare for a challenging two-match tour in New Zealand.
The impending tour could intensify the pressure on Du Preez to perform well, as a strong showing might secure his place in the squad for those matches and potentially earn him a starting role at Eden Park if skipper Siya Kolisi is unable to return in time and Jasper Wiese remains suspended.
Du Preez acknowledges that his performance against the Barbarians has bolstered his confidence, which he aims to carry into the match against Australia.
“I wouldn’t say I would start against New Zealand, because we probably have players coming back. But I don’t want to look too far ahead. As I have already said, this is my first Test start in seven years, so for me it’s all about this Saturday and that is all that’s on my mind,” claimed Du Preez.
“Getting that run (against the Barbarians) does help my confidence a little bit, although it has been almost two months since then, so a lot has changed. But I’m just so thankful for the opportunity to get a run and represent my country again.”
