Players and coaches are pulling together to ensure the Springbok boat goes faster ahead of Saturday’s showdown against a star-studded Barbarians side, says new cap Vincent Tshituka.
All eyes will be on the robust Democratic Republic of Congo-born loose forward when he pulls on the green and gold jersey for the first time at the Cape Town Stadium (kickoff 5.10pm).
A new-look Bok team want to hit the ground running against the invitational side ahead of Tests against Italy in Tshwane on June 6 and Gqeberha a week later.
“The guys who are preparing us for the Barbarians have shown togetherness,” Tshituka said.
“I’ve enjoyed that, and nobody’s door is closed, and everyone is willing to help and make this boat go faster.
“The green and gold is everything to me and my family, who have supported me along this journey. That is already a big enough occasion. To be honest with you, I haven’t even thought about the Barbarians players I’m facing.
“No disrespect to them and how they are feeling ahead of this game, but I must still take in how I feel and what I am going through. My moment is where I want to be present, and I will keep my mind focused on that.
“It will be an emotional game for some of the Barbarians players, because it is at the back end of their careers.
“However, I must get over the emotion and get stuck in.”
Ahead of the clash, Tshituka spoke of a frustrating wait for his SA identity documents.
“That was something I’ve tried to get for quite a while, and everybody asks me that question,” he said.
“Off the back end of the season, obviously, people have been saying yes, you’re going to play for the Springboks, you’re going to make it.
“That was always the best-case scenario for me, and I tried to put it on the back burner. For me, it was just, ‘let me get the passport, let me be eligible to be in the race’, because without it I was never in the race.
“I felt like that was just the ticket to participate and then being selected for a Test match is winning a medal.
“The opportunity to be part of the race was massive, and getting that through was big for me, my brother and my family. It’s a dream come true,” he said.
“Being involved is already a spectacle on its own, for me and my family supporting me along the journey. Outside that, Cape Town is known for coming out, and its crowd.
“I’ve no doubt that it’s going to be loud, and it’ll be an atmosphere that will be hard to forget. I’ll try focusing on doing my best, because it’s a great opportunity at this level.
“It’s honestly everything, and I’m excited for the game. I’ve been privileged enough to work with a couple of the Boks at the Sharks, but it’s obviously a little different now, because you’re working with your heroes.
“I remember seeing Pieter-Steph du Toit walk in and I was like, yes that’s one of the greats right there. That’s a privilege that not many people get and everyone is working together and wants to achieve the same thing,” Tshituka said.
Saturday’s teams:
SA: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouché, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 André Esterhuizen.
Barbarians squad: Forwards Cian Healy (Leinster), Will Collier (Castres), Hassane Kolingar (Racing 92), Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Francais), Camille Chat (Lyon), John “Ricky” Riccitelli (Blues), David Ribbans (Toulon), Ruben van Heerden (DHL Stormers), Josh Beehre (Blues), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Sam Cane (Tokyo Sungoliath), Shannon Frizell (Toshiba), Lachlan Boshier (Wild Knights). Backs Tawera Kerr Barlow (La Rochelle), Santiago Arata Perrone (Castres), Melvyn Jaminet (Toulon), Josh Jacomb (Chiefs), Peter Umaga-Jensen (Hurricanes), Leicester Fainga’anuku (Toulon), Mark Tele’a (Blues), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Highlanders), Joe Marchant (Stade Francais).
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