Riley Norton during training with the Springboks at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg recently.
Earlier this year, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus had a growing interest in JJ van der Mescht, but this week explained why Riley Norton has leapfrogged the burly lock into the Springbok squad for the Nations Championship.
Van der Mescht, the 26-year-old former Junior Springbok, has displayed excellent form — and a newfound maturity — for Northampton Saints, who last week won the English Premiership title.
At 146kg and 2m tall, the lock is athletic despite his bulk and at one stage was touted as a "like-for-like" replacement for (long-term injured) RG Snyman in terms of the impact he could provide from the Bomb Squad.
But lately, Erasmus has not held back in singing the praises of Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton, who has impressed the coach off the field in the recent alignment camp, and on the field in the match against the Barbarians.
