Embrose Papier's persistence pays off as Bulls star earns Springbok starting chance

The Bulls scrumhalf, who earned all seven of his previous Test caps back in 2018, returns to the fold after a stellar campaign that saw him crowned South Africa's United Rugby Championship Player of the Season.

Papier is one of 10 changes to the starting XV that defeated England in Johannesburg last week as the world champions field a new-look side for their clash with Scotland, and he's ready to make the most of it.

"There's always nerves before a Test match but I'm super excited for the opportunity and yeah, we are just looking forward to the game," the 29-year-old said.

Papier said his return to the starting lineup was a reward for the hard work he has put in, but he knows that securing another opportunity is only the first step.

"It's exciting to be back, but I still need to grow and work hard to earn my place here," he added.

"It's all about putting the team first. It's about helping to prep the guys and if you get to play, just to give your all."

On resuming his partnership with Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard, Papier added: "We've spent a lot of time together on the pitch and I'm just really excited to go into this game with him.

"But we know it's going to be a challenge for us. It's a different calling in the Springbok environment, and we've just got to pitch up and just give our all on the day."

Erasmus was asked about his decision to recall Papier, with some questioning whether the scrumhalf's opportunity at Test level had passed after he was repeatedly overlooked despite his impressive form for the Bulls in recent years.

Ultimately, his performances over the past nine months proved impossible for the Bok coach to ignore, earning him a long-awaited return to the starting lineup.

"Firstly, I thought he played really well this season," Erasmus said. "Obviously, we've had guys like Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse who were really well established who played for us at scrumhalf.

"There were really a bunch of good nines playing well and sometimes it's not because one player is not playing well enough or not Springbok class. It's just because there's some other guys who are also playing really well.

"But I think none of us can look past the fact with how well Embrose played this year," he added. "There's been some injuries and there's some guys who lost form and he gathered form, if I can put it that way.

"I'm very happy for him personally and obviously for us, it's nice to have him on board.

"He gets his opportunity at home with Handré, who he's played a lot of rugby with. So hopefully that also helps him, at a field he is familiar with."

Papier spoke earlier this year of playing the waiting game and staying patient as he continued working hard to earn another opportunity with the Boks, which finally came when he was invited to a Springbok alignment camp in March.

"I just kept working. I knew I could still do it. It was just little things I had to work on. And at that age (when he last played for the Boks), I was still so young," he said.

"I became a lot calmer over the years and started making better decisions on the field.

"In the past, I used to just pass a lot and see what happens, but now I analyse teams.

"The more experience you gain, the better decisions you make. You can scan teams and see what they are weak at."

READ MORE: Sharpshooter Handre Pollard returns as Springboks load up for Scotland scrap