Rassie: Venter's Bok call-up not a block on Scotland

THE Springboks did not select Boan Venter to block him from representing Scotland in the future.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

Due to a mini loosehead crisis in the Bok camp ahead of the start of their international season, coach Rassie Erasmus decided to rope in the Edinburgh player, and confirmed on Wednesday that he could potentially be in line to debut against Georgia should he adapt quickly enough.

Although Venter's call-up came as a surprise, the Boks have been following his progress as a junior in South Africa way before he moved to the Scottish capital.

He's been one of the stand-out players for Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship.

Injuries to Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu, as well as the retirement of Steven Kitshoff, left the Boks a bit thin in the loosehead department. Thomas du Toit, who can play on both sides, has primarily functioned as a tighthead, while another swinging prop, veteran Trevor Nyakane, is also out injured.

That prompted Erasmus and his coaches to look outside of the players who've been involved with the team in some capacity before.