For a while, it looked like Boan Venter was destined to wear dark blue. Since arriving at Edinburgh from the Cheetahs in 2021, the loosehead had quietly built a reputation as an effective scrummager and ball-carrier in the United Rugby Championship.
With Scotland struggling for depth at loosehead and Venter set to qualify on residency in 2026, his path towards international honours seemed clear.
Then the Springboks called.
That single phone call from Rassie Erasmus has flipped the script. The 28-year-old started for South Africa against Georgia in their 55-10 victory in Mbombela last weekend, scoring a try just eight minutes into his debut and effectively ending any speculation about his Test allegiance.
“From a young boy playing rugby at six or seven years old, it’s every South African’s dream to play for the Springboks, so when I got that call, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.”
The decision cuts short what looked like a calculated, long-term trajectory toward a Scotland cap. Instead, Venter now finds himself firmly in the Bok mix ahead of the Rugby Championship – a late bloomer who has taken the direct route back home.
“At the end of the day what counts is that we are here and it was so great to slot into this group. Everyone was so welcoming and helped us hit the ground running,” said Venter.
“Since the team was announced we felt the support of the whole group.”
Starting alongside fellow debutants Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché, Venter didn’t look out of place. His try – powering over from close range – helped settle South Africa after an early Georgian score, and he stayed busy throughout, offering consistent impact in the tight and in contact.
“We jokingly call the back five the V8, and you can feel the power coming through.
“As a group, we are quite tight and try to pick each other up and be supportive, and it played a massive role in giving us confidence leading up to the game.
“It’s a level up from club rugby. Not much in terms of due process but it’s definitely a level up. I wouldn’t say it surprised me, it was just nice to again how big rugby is in South Africa.
“It’s quite inspirational to see a whole nation get behind a team and they know how much that support means to the team.”
