Jean-Luc to give it his all

JEAN-LUC du Preez will wear the green and gold of the Springboks for the first time since August 2023 when South Africa host the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. 

And he couldn’t be more proud. 

With 14 caps to his name, Du Preez will pack down at the back of the scrum alongside Siya Kolisi and Vincent Tshituka as the Springbok loose-forwards. 

Of playing for the national team again, Du Preez told reporters yesterday: “Playing for the Springboks again has always been in the back of my mind, and my plan was always to give my best for my club in the hope that I make it back into the team, so I’m delighted to get this opportunity again.

“It is a massive privilege, so I plan to go out there and give it my best.”

Of teaming up with Tshituka and Kolisi, he added: “I’m looking forward to playing with them. The last time I played with Siya was back in 2018, so it’s going to be good to reconnect with him on the field again on Saturday.”

Of what they will face innie Kaap, he said: “The Barbarians enjoy putting up a good display for the crowd, and we expect players like Sam Cane and Shannon Frizell to come hard at us.

“There is no doubt that many of their players will want to prove a point against the Boks.”