JJ van der Mescht, a 26-year-old lock for Northampton Saints, has been called into a virtual alignment camp by the Springboks, highlighting his impressive performance this season. Weighing in at 145 kg (23 stone), van der Mescht has played a significant role in helping his club reach the top of the Premiership Rugby table.
Van der Mescht, who represented South Africa Under-20s at the 2019 age-grade World Championships, is yet to earn a cap for the senior national team. His selection for the alignment camp comes as Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged the strong performances of van der Mescht and fellow player Carlü Sadie this season.
The virtual alignment camp includes 21 players, two of whom are uncapped overseas players. The primary aim of the camp is to align players with the Springboks’ systems and structures ahead of the international season.
Rassie Erasmus emphasized the importance of these camps, stating, “The main purpose of the alignment camps is to get everyone on the same page and ensure that they understand our values and what we are trying to achieve on the field.” Van der Mescht echoed this sentiment, noting, “For every South African, it is a target to play for South Africa,” and adding, “Since you’re a little kid, you always want to play for the Springboks.”
The next official training camp for the Springboks is scheduled for June, with a match against the Barbarians set for June 20. Other upcoming fixtures include matches against England on July 4, Scotland on July 11, Wales on July 18, and the Wallabies on September 27.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final roster for the upcoming matches, but van der Mescht’s inclusion in the alignment camp marks a significant step in his rugby career as he aims for a place in the senior team.
