Head coach Rassie Erasmus has praised Junior Boks Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead, who made the most of their opportunity in the Springboks camp.<\/p>\n
The trio were invited to train with the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions for two weeks in the build-up to the Rugby Championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rassie\u2019s verdict<\/p>\n Erasmus<\/a> added the players to the two-week training camp in order to continue building squad depth and nurturing the young talent for the future.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fantastic to have Bathobele, Cheswill and Haashim with us, and it was impressive to see their enthusiasm and the way they grabbed the opportunity with both hands on and off the field,\u201d said head coach Erasmus.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were very pleased with the way they slotted into the training sessions and used the time to interact with the Springbok<\/a> players and learn from them, even though we made it clear that there was no pressure on them to grasp all our structures and systems. It was rather an opportunity for them to experience how we operate in the team and to expose them to what is required to perform at this level, and they certainly embraced the opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to see how they took the time to understand our structures, and how they used this chance to engage with the players on a one-on-one basis.\u201d<\/p>\n The head coach believes that the trio have promising futures ahead of them after starring for the U20s en route to winning the World Rugby U20 Championship.<\/p>\n \u201cThey all have bright futures, and we hope the experience they gained and the lessons learned will set them in good stead, as they look to further develop their careers and strive to reach this level in the coming years,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Rugby Championship: Five bold predictions as Springboks to end Eden Park streak after \u2018unconvincing\u2019 All Blacks \u2018ran scared\u2019 for 12 years<\/a><\/p>\n Rookie\u2019s take<\/p>\n Reflecting on his time with the Boks, Jooste said: \u201cThe past two weeks with the Boks have been incredible.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a Junior Bok, it was a privilege to be among the best, and although it was tough, I learned a lot. I walk away with new insights, more confidence and an even greater hunger to grow.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was particularly memorable for me to be inspired and motivated by the players I look up to and who are already where I\u2019d like to be. They didn\u2019t only share their knowledge, but also their energy and spirit of unity.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to thank everyone who made this experience possible. I am truly grateful for every lesson, every tip, and every piece of encouragement. This is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Highest-profile\u2019 Springboks sign up for rebel league as R360 turn attention to Ardie Savea<\/a><\/p>\n Highly-rated scrum-half Pead, who was in his second season with the Junior Boks this year, echoed those sentiments.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learnt valuable lessons, and the experience I gained will truly go a long way,\u201d said Pead.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to the coaches and players. I believe I have grown in the last two weeks, and with these high standards, it definitely motivated me to give my absolute best so that I can reach the level they are at.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m truly grateful for this opportunity and I hope that there many more of these to come in the future. It made me realise that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I\u2019ll certainly take all the lessons and apply it to my game, and hopefully I\u2019ll keep growing and become a better rugby player and human being.\u201d<\/p>\n Antoine Dupont makes \u2018very intelligent\u2019 decision for Springboks showdown<\/a><\/p>\n