Springbok loosehead prop Steve Kitshoff is on the cover of the new SA Rugby magazine, on sale this week for just R29.90.
Kitshoff made a record 18 appearances off the Springbok bench before getting his first start.
The 25-year-old finally got to wear the green and gold No 1 jersey against the All Blacks at Newlands in October after Beast Mtawarira missed the match for personal reasons. Kitshoff made the most of his opportunity to start, impressing at scrum time and with ball in hand. And while Mtawarira, who is fast approaching 100 Test caps, remains the Boks’ first-choice loosehead for now, it appears to be just a matter of time before Kitshoff makes the No 1 jersey his own.
In this issue, he chats to chief rugby writer Jon Cardinelli about his first Test start, why playing in France made him a better scrummager, and how starting a match or coming off the bench determines his mindset.
Also in the new issue:
– Warrick Gelant wants to express himself on the field
– Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to play a key role for the Springboks in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup
– Damian McKenzie, the little guy with the big game, has been making some gigantic strides for the All Blacks in 2017
– After an inconsistent league-stage display, Western Province’s close-knit culture inspired them to a memorable Currie Cup triumph
– Rob du Preez produced two commanding performances against the team he will play for next season
– Odwa Ndungane’s loyalty and humility set him apart in South African rugby
– Rugby analysis is now simple and affordable for coaches at lower levels of the game
– The U18 Craven Week will get a makeover in 2018 in a bid to improve the standard of rugby
– Losing last year’s national open-club final motivated False Bay to go all the way in 2017
– Cheslin Kolbe has embraced his attacking game in France
– Out latest Saffas in Europe XV, based on players’ club form over the past month
