Emmanuel Tshituka embraces Springbok opportunity

The Sharks forward reflected on his remarkable journey after earning a call-up to the Springbok alignment camp in March and being selected for the SA ‘A’ side set to face Zimbabwe in Gqeberha on Saturday (kick-off 12pm).

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tshituka admitted that representing South African rugby seemed unlikely just 18 months ago as he continued working towards eligibility and chasing opportunities at the highest level. 

He says simply being in the environment remains a special achievement.

"It's a massive honour and privilege for both myself and my brother. I think 18 months ago we didn't even think it would be possible to be in this environment, so I'm just super grateful and excited."

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Vincent earned his first Springbok call-ups against the Barbarians and Italy last year, and Emmanuel says his older brother has played a key role in helping him adjust to life in the national setup. 

He revealed that Vincent shared valuable advice on embracing the occasion while remaining focused on the standards required at international level.

"He's given me as much advice as he can, not just for the games but also for the training sessions on how to uphold the standards from his experience last year."

Tshituka also credited Springbok captain Siya Kolisi for having a major influence on his growth as a player. Having spent time together at the Sharks and now in the national camp, Emmanuel says he continues to learn from the experienced Bok skipper both on and off the field.

The 24-year-old flanker believes his time in the Springbok environment has already elevated key areas of his game. 

Working alongside some of the world’s best forwards has helped sharpen his understanding of the set pieces, while also improving his effectiveness at the breakdown.