Beast academy graduate

PROFILE | STEVEN KITSHOFF BEAST ACADEMY GRADUATE

STEVEN KITSHOFF WILL TAKE UP TENDAI MTAWARIRA’S MANTLE AS THE SPRINGBOKS’ GO-TO SCRUM DESTROYER AGAINST THE LIONS

When the Lions last toured South Africa in 2009, they were met by a force of nature in Tendai Mtawarira.

Nicknamed ‘Beast’, Mtawarira already had a handful of Test caps when he was picked to face the Lions, but his international reputation was truly launched with a performance that became the stuff of legend.

It was the beginning of what would be a long and successful Test career that ended with Mtawarira retiring after winning the 2019 World Cup as the most-capped prop in Springbok history.

Though the Lions need not fret the spectre of Beast, his successor may cause a few nightmares.

Ready to fill Mtawarira’s sizable boots is Steven Kitshoff, the 29-year-old who has finally graduated from serving as Beast’s Bok understudy.

A prodigious talent, Kitshoff broke into the Western Province senior ranks at the tender age of 19. While he quickly became a bastion of both the Province and Stormers scrum, he has had to be much more patient for his chance on the Test scene.

Given how effective he has been as a replacement in Test rugby, there should be no doubting his ability as a starter.

Kitshoff is one of the best loosehead props in the game. His ability and street smarts in the scrum are matched by his notable work rate around the park. There are few props who can match Kitshoff at the scrum and even fewer who can match him for ball-carries, tackles, turnovers and pure staying power.

What’s more, he has effectively stepped up as a leader for his franchise. With Siya Kolisi struggling with successive knee injuries over the past couple of years, Kitshoff ensured there was no leadership void in the Stormers’ dressing room in the absence of the Bok captain.

This reflects his maturity and nous, and his permanent elevation to the role in replacing Sharks-bound Kolisi was testament to how good he has been in the role.

The 2009 Lions overlooked the power of Beast. The class of 2021 would be well-advised not to underestimate his successor.

There are few props who can match Kitshoff at the scrum and even fewer who can match him for ballcarries, tackles, turnovers and pure staying power

Like so many South African players, his talents would only truly be appreciated when he moved overseas, taking up an offer from Bordeaux in 2015. It is no surprise that his Bok debut came a year later, as the Springboks secured a series win over Ireland in 2016.

The prodigal son would return to the Western Cape at the end of that year and has since established himself for the Stormers as both the point man of the scrum and a team leader.

A destructive weapon on the Bok bench throughout their 2019 World Cup campaign, Kitshoff is set for a promotion from the famous ‘Bomb Squad’.

12

The number of starts Kitshoff has made in his 47-Test career

Above left: Kitshoff replaces Tendai Mtawarira in the 43rd minute of the 2019 World Cup final Above: Scrumming down against the All Blacks during the big World Cup pool clash in Yokohama Bottom left: Kitshoff captained the Stormers in Siya Kolisi’s absence and is now their permanent skipper