Mohoje's dream to go green
[caption id="attachment_37944" align="alignright" width="405"] BRIGHT FUTURE: Flyhalf Handre Pollard has been given the opportunity to kick off his Springbok career against Scotland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. Picture: MIKE HOLMES[/caption]
IT has been a dream past few weeks and a meteoric rise for Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje. The height of that dream came on Tuesday when Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer told the flanker he would be part of the Springbok match-day squad against Scotland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
After getting the news, the first thing Mohoje did was to call home to tell the pillar – his dad – and family he would be wearing the No 20 Springbok jersey this weekend.
"They are coming down from the Free State to watch the game," an excited Mohoje said.
Just last year the 23-year-old was playing Varsity Cup rugby as captain of the University of Free State Shimlas side.
Now the lock-cum-flanker is on the brink of making his Bok debut should Meyer bring him on this weekend.
Mohoje is one of 13 changes coach Meyer has made to the squad that narrowly beat Wales last weekend.
When Mohoje made his Super Rugby debut for the Cheetahs earlier this year, very few, including himself, knew that only a few months later he would be donning the green and gold jersey.
"This is a dream come true. I can't wait to get my chance and get onto the field," he said yesterday.
"It did not look possible then [while playing Varsity Cup] that I would be here. I'm now going to grab my chance. I'm just glad that the coach [Meyer] backed me all along."
The versatile forward, who plays both loose-forward and lock, handled his first Springbok press conference with the same ease and confidence he displays on the field.
Mohoje is one of five uncapped players Meyer has named in his 23-man squad.
The coach confirmed his belief in the Qwa-Qwa-born player and could not hide his excitement at seeing the 1.93-metre tall and 107kg forward in action.
"I'm really excited about Oupa. He has really impressed me in camp.
"I even said to him I think he's good enough to play and I want to give him a chance against Scotland.
"He's big, strong and brilliant in the lineout. I think he can be a really great opensider.
"He's more or less the same build as Willem [Alberts]," Meyer said.
Of the new caps, it is only flyhalf Handre Pollard who will be making his debut in the starting XV. Others who will be on the bench are prop Marcel van der Merwe, Sharks lock Stephan Lewies who only joined the squad this week following the injury to Flip van der Merwe, and Lions No10 Marnitz Boshoff.
Meyer showered Pollard with praise, hinting the pivot has the potential to be one of the best flyhalfs in the world.
"Handre is a great player. I followed his career since he was under-16. He would have been in the squad if it wasn't for his commitment to the SA under-20 side. He was always in the mix, but unfortunately, we couldn't pick him.
"If you look at the best flyhalfs in the world, they all started at the ages of 19, 20, 21. He's really mature for his age. I can't wait to see him going."
The other changes in the side include Lwazi Mvovo getting a chance on the wing, while flankers Schalk Burger and Marcell Coetzee replace the injured Willem Alberts and overseas-based Francois Louw. In the front row, Coenie Oosthuizen takes the place of Beast Mtawarira and lock Lood de Jager gets his first start. Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane and Francois Hougaard are on the bench.
Meyer said: "Yes, there are a lot of changes, but I'm very excited. This reminds me of the time I started off and there were a lot of guys with no caps.
"Every test match is important, and of course, the World Cup is the pinnacle. This is a chance to look at other players who would maybe not [usually] get a chance. This is a great opportunity to see what these guys can do."
The Springbok team is:
Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Lwazi Mvovo, Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermeulen, Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Victor Matfield (captain), Lood de Jager, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Marcel van der Merwe, Stephan Lewies, Teboho "Oupa" Mohoje, Francois Hougaard, Marnitz Boshoff and Zane Kirchner - Chumani Bambani
