Ruan bats for old mate Salmaan

Lock Ruan Nortjé says he’s looking forward to going into battle with Salmaan Moerat in Saturday’s Nations Championship Test against Italy in Turin.

The former Junior Springboks combine once again in the green and gold, renewing a partnership that stretches back to 2017.

Nortjé, who has joined Frans Ludeke’s Kubota Spears ahead of the new domestic season in Japan, has long admired Moerat and is delighted to see him back in the Bok set-up after battling a series of injuries.

“Salmaan and I are from the same age group and we played together at the Junior Springboks,” Nortjé told the media on Wednesday. “So for me, each time I get to play with him it’s a real honour.

“I’ve looked up to him since I was a schoolboy and seeing him play at Paarl Boys’ so I’m very excited to join up with him again.

“I think a lot of credit has to go to him – he’s been through a lot with injuries and stuff but he fights his way back into the squad. I’m really glad for him and excited to join up with him in the second row.”

JASPER: Boks won’t underestimate Italy

The Springboks face an Italy side hard hit by injuries, but Nortjé insists that won’t change their approach to Saturday’s Test.

“It doesn’t matter what Italian team takes the field. We know they’re going to come with a lot of passion and it’s never going to be easy against them,” he said.

“Our biggest thing is we know we’ll have to match their intensity and make sure that we pitch up and stick to our structures and what we want to do.”

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