Springbok lock Ruan Nortjé was a thorn in the All Blacks' side during the recent Rugby's Greatest Rugby series.
It was only two years ago that Ruan Nortje cut short his holiday after receiving an urgent emergency call-up to join the Springboks squad in Australia during a serious lock injury crisis.
The former Bulls man was probably only fourth or fifth in the queue for the Springboks’ No 5 jersey then, such is the quality of South Africa’s lock depth.
But Nortje stepped up in a big way, playing in most of the Tests in 2024 before becoming a constant in the Springboks’ engine room, and establishing himself as South Africa’s premier No 5 lock with a series of telling performances.
Nortje marshalled the Springboks’ lineout against the All Blacks with outstanding precision. South Africa lost just two lineouts on their own throw, whereas the All Blacks surrendered eight because of the ferocious competing by Nortje and company.
Those eight stolen lineouts were crucial momentum killers for New Zealand, who often rely on the set-piece as a primary attacking platform.
Yet despite his rapid rise and growing authority within the national setup, Nortje approaches every Test match with the humility of a player determined to prove himself all over again.
“It feels like yesterday, but these last two years have flown by,” Nortje told the media from Italy ahead of their first Nations Championship match in Turin.
“So much has happened. I think I was just in a privileged position to be in the right place at the right time, and I’m blessed to have received an opportunity. There are a lot of players around me who make life much easier, and that speaks to what this Springbok culture is all about.”
Even as an established starter, the lock admits the reality of wearing the green and gold still feels surreal at times.
“It sometimes still feels unreal,” he added. “I just try to take each game and each opportunity as it comes, appreciate it, and play as if it’s my last one.”
That grounded mindset extends to his core role as a lineout strategist. When preparing for Test matches, Nortje works closely with fellow senior locks to build a tailored plan before turning full attention inward.
“We always try to spend as much time as possible analysing the opposition, especially on a Sunday when we get together to make sure we’re all on the same page,” Nortje explained.
“Luckily, we’ve got great players where we all sit together and come up with a plan. But after that, we shift complete focus onto ourselves and what we want our standards to be for the week.”
Although the lock now plays in Japan for Kubota Spears, Nortje’s heart remains firmly connected to his roots at Loftus Versfeld, where he spent nearly a decade developing his craft.
“I’ll always watch the Bulls when I can. I’ll always be a big Bulls supporter and stay a Bull in my heart,” Nortje added. “Over the years there, I made lifelong friends. It’s been a great start to their season, and I’ll be rooting for them all the way.”