Ruan Nortje is backing Salmaan Moerat to shine when they pack down alongside each other in the Springboks’ second-row against Italy in Turin on Saturday.
The Boks are set to face Italy, France and Ireland in the northern hemisphere leg of their Nations Championship campaign.
Nortje has cemented himself in South Africa‘s first-choice run-on side in recent years and was one of the Springboks’ starting locks – with Eben Etzebeth – in all four of their Tests during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks earlier this year.
However, Etzebeth is currently sidelined due to a leg injury and has not been included in the world champions’ squad for their upcoming Nations Championship Tests in Europe.
Moerat returns to Boks’ starting line-up
That has resulted in Moerat, who has captained the Boks in four of the 11 Tests he has played for his country, being called up as his replacement ahead of more experienced locks in Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert as well as the uncapped Riley Norton.
Moerat’s selection for South Africa usually receives plenty of criticism on social media but boss Rassie Erasmus launched a passionate defence of his player earlier this week.
Nortje echoed Erasmus’ sentiments when asked for his views on Moerat’s selection as Etzebeth’s replacement.
“Salmaan and I go back to 2017,” he told reporters. “We’re from the same age group, and we played together for the Junior Boks, so every time I get to play with him, it’s a real honour.
“I’ve looked up to him since I saw him play for Paarl Boys’ High as a schoolboy, and I’m really excited to join up with him again.
“He deserves a lot of credit for what he’s been through with his injuries, and he always fights his way back into the squad, so I’m very glad for him and excited to join up with him.”
The 28-year-old also opened up on his rapid rise with the Boks over the past two seasons and paid tribute to his teammates who he feels has contributed to his success.
“The last two years have flown by and so much has happened (during that time),” said Nortje.
“I think I was in a privileged position to be in the right place at the right time. I’m just blessed to have gotten the opportunity. I think there’s a lot of players around me that really made life much easier for me.
‘It sometimes still feels unreal’
“That speaks for what this culture is at the Springboks and how the players operate and perform around you. For me, it sometimes still feels unreal. I just try and take each game that I get as an opportunity, I try to appreciate it and expect that it’s my last one.”
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The Boks faced Italy on three occasions in 2025 and although the world champions were victorious on each occasion, they had to work hard to clinch those wins, especially in the first encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria which they won 42-24.
Nortje expects another tough challenge against the Azzurri on Saturday.
“I wouldn’t say we underestimated Italy in last year’s game in Pretoria because it was the first game of the year for us, but it certainly showed that it doesn’t matter which Italian team is on the field, they will always bring a lot of passion, and it’s never easy against them,” he added.
“For us, the important things are to match their intensity, pitch up on the day, and to stick to our structures and what we want to do.”
English (US) ·