In our latest addition to an article series looking at one-cap Springboks who are still playing, one forward is soon heading to the Sharks.
There is a lengthy list of players who have retired after earning just one cap for the Springboks, but there are also a few who are still playing, and continue to harbour hopes of adding to that solitary appearance at international level.
WHO ARE THE ONE CAP SPRINGBOK PLAYERS WHO ARE STILL PLAYING?
Powerful lock Jason Jenkins is now 28 years old, and it seems quite unbelievable that he has featured in just one Test for the Springboks.
The versatile forward was tipped for greatness ever since he was paired with RG Snyman as a junior at Loftus Versfeld way back in 2016, but regular injuries have led to his career stalling at different times
Jenkins has still remained highly regarded, with Jake White recruiting him in Japan before Johann van Graan brought him to Munster and then Leo Cullen at Leinster.
Notably, the former Junior Springbok is now set to join the Durban-based Sharks as he hopes to revive his Springbok prospects.
Jenkins earned just one Springbok cap against Wales in 2018, and while plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then, there is good reason to believe he could force his way back onto the national radar.
HIGH PRAISE
Van Graan, who coached him at junior level and at Munster, has spoken extensively about how much talent he possesses.
“We crossed paths the first time at the SA under-20s when he and RG were the two locks. That was the first time I coached him while I was at the Springboks. He is an unbelievable person that began his rugby career relatively late but he is a sponge, he always wants to learn,” Van Graan explains.
“He has a physical ability that few players possess. When we looked for a replacement for CJ Stander, I wanted to bring in a ball carrier who had the same ball-carrying abilities as CJ.
“That’s why we looked at Jason, he was primarily a lock but can also play blindside flank. When he arrived at Munster he unfortunately got injured and spent a long time injured. It was unfortunate because we had him and RG both down to play the Scarlets and the week before he made a linebreak at training and tore his quad.
“By the end of the season he started playing and made a huge impact from the bench – especially in the Toulouse quarterfinal in the European Champions Cup.”
“He is one of the few players in World Rugby that you can play at 4, 5, 6 and 8 – his ball-carrying abilities stand out. He has incredibly soft hands in contact. He can carry hard but can also get a ball out in contact. Defensively he is very strong. He is one of the few players that are over 2m in world rugby that can poach as well. That is a strength.
“He can jump and contest anywhere in the lineout. One thing few people know is how good he is at the maul, on both sides of the ball. If you look at Leinster’s maul, at the front all the weight and power comes through him, and they are one of the best in Europe.
“He has always been a test-calibre player and its great that his injuries are behind him.”
