Exclusive: The Next Du Toit? Ruan Nortje Finds His Stride in Springbok Green

There’s just something about the depth in Springbok rugby at the moment that when a young lock makes the switch to flank, immediate comparisons are drawn with two-time Rugby World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit.

For Ruan Nortje, that’s the case, although at this embryonic stage of his career, it’s a tad premature.

The 26-year-old was shifted from lock to the number seven position in April for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and stayed there as the Pretoria outfit battled with injuries to a number of flankers in their squad.

With his extensive experience as captain of the Bulls, and now his proven ability to get down on the side of the scrum, Nortje has made himself an even more valuable asset to Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of a busy international season.

Nortje Embraces Versatility

Nortje is just starting out his Springbok career with a handful of caps to date, but with the fixtures coming thick and fast, starting on June 28 with South Africa welcoming the Barbarians to Cape Town, the ultimate goal will be solidifying a place in the side building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

“I think any player would strive to be on that plane [to the Rugby World Cup]. So for me it's not thinking too far ahead, just thinking about the next game and the next opportunity you can get,” Nortje told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview at an SA Rugby Union announcement of new Bok Town fan viewing venues for the upcoming season.

“So when that time comes, hopefully you can be there. But for me personally it's all about focusing on being the best possible version I can be at this stage of the year and then the rest of the season.”

Bulls’ Impressive Run to URC Final

Nortje would also have taken confidence from the Bulls’ run to the final of the URC. Though they lost to Leinster in the trophy match, it marked the third time in four seasons of the competition that the Bulls finished runners-up.

“Yeah, I know it’s a good season. Unfortunately, we were outclassed in the final. But it’s always special to play in the final. It was a complete team effort."

“We have a good bunch of guys together that play lekker together. We enjoy each other’s company. So hopefully, we can go on this for the next year.”

After the Barbarians, the Springboks will host Italy in two Tests starting on July 5. 

The first fixture in particular will be a special occasion for Nortje, with the match taking place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Being part of the Springbok side that runs onto a packed Loftus will be high on the list of priorities for the towering forward. With Erasmus having a penchant for making a personal connection with his soldiers, there’s every chance Nortje will be making some new, unforgettable memories soon.