PHEPSI Buthelezi was a bundle of nerves when he first joined the Springboks, but five weeks later he is fizzing with enthusiasm ahead of his debut on Saturday in the match against Portugal.
Buthelezi is usually a No 8, but will be at openside flank in Bloemfontein after trialling successfully in the position for the Sharks.
Sharks coach John Plumtree said Buthelezi is destined to be the next Siya Kolisi, and it is fitting that the 25-year-old says Kolisi has helped ready him for international rugby.
“I was very nervous when I joined the squad,” Buthelezi said.
“You watch (TV documentary) Chasing the Sun, you see those meetings, and you wonder how you are going to fit in.
“But Siya took me under his wing, and I have learned so much from the likes of him, Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden.”
Buthelezi has been blown away by the level of professionalism at the double-world champion team.
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“It feels like I have gone back to school, because you realise just how much detail goes into the way the Boks play,” he said.
“You might do the same thing back at your franchise, but not with this level of emphasis – and you don’t understand the importance of it.
“Valuable things are going on in the game that the spectators do not see,” Buthelezi continued.
“There is so much attention to detail that contributes to the bigger picture.
“People will see the try being scored and the wings and centres get the praise, but they won’t have seen how well you hit that breakdown.
“The amount of detail that goes into preparation with the Springboks is immense.”
A new #Springboks captain and an exciting bunch of uncapped players will face Portugal in Bloem on Saturday - more here: https://t.co/L77Y6DgLsv 🤩#ForverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/uJd3t3XyUB
The former Durban High School learner says he has gradually come out of his shell after having been too scared to say a word.
“The newcomers have grown and got more comfortable in the environment, and we are starting to express ourselves,” he said.
“Coach Rassie (Erasmus) tells us that we are not here by luck. We deserve to be here. Yes, there is a way the Boks do things, but we must not forget what got us into the room.
“That is massive for me, and I want to bring Phepsi to the party on Saturday and incorporate what I do into the Springbok standards.”