Second row will earn a 50th cap for SA in their Rugby Championship Test against Argentina on Saturday
Lood de Jager of South Africa wins the lineout during the match between SA and Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on August 14 2021 in Gqeberha, South Africa. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/RICHARD HUGGARD
De Jager, 28, is one of the finest second rows in the game and his return to the Springbok side during the British & Irish Lions series went a long way to helping the world champions to victory. “I have had a few more injuries than the normal guy,” De Jager told reporters. “But that is just part of my journey. You suffer those setbacks. Then you come back stronger. Every injury, as bad and disappointing as it is, is just part of your journey. You must see it like that.”
“Match fitness is hard to get when you are not a naturally fit guy. I am not the best in training. Nothing comes close to match intensity and what you need in a game,” De Jager said.