Dream come true for Bok to be Mchunu

The 23-year-old made waves for the Cell C Sharks when he scored a barnstorming try against the Lions in 2021 and from there, he’s shown that he has what it takes to play international rugby.

Mchunu was announced in the Springbok squad when the original squad members gathered before being joined by the Stormers, Bulls and overseas players joined the set-up which gave him time to settle into the environment.

“I’ve just taken it one day at a time,” the soft-spoken Mchunu said ahead of the second test this Saturday. “I’ve just trying to make the most of each day and I think that the emotion will really let out on Saturday but for now I’m just focusing on everything at training and making sure we are ready to go on Saturday.”

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Having made the shift to prop around five years ago to be on the verge of a Springbok cap is a remarkable achievement but for the former Maritzburg College boy it was part of the plan.

“It was something I did have in my goals (to be a Springbok). I think that everyone who plays rugby in South Africa, especially schoolboys, you look forward to making that debut, but I didn’t think that after making the shift from loose forward to prop it would happen this soon.

“I’m just extremely grateful for this opportunity,” he added.

The youngster, who does draw a number of comparisons to Springbok legend Tendai Mtawarira, who also transitioned from loose forward to prop. Despite the comparisons, Mchunu is out to carve his own path in the rugby wilderness.

“It’s a great honour to be called Beast 2.0 but I am out here trying to create my own legacy,” he stated.

“He’s someone who set the bar high for us, but I want to do it my way.

“He has been a great mentor with mainly off the field stuff and he’s been great from a mental point of view and knowing that there is someone out there who has done it before to help if I need.”