Returning Bok behemoth Jasper Wiese ready to unleash against All Blacks

The back-rower was slapped with a four-game ban after he headbutted Italian prop Danilo Fischetti during the July international in Gqeberha.

That meant he missed the clash against Georgia, both Tests versus Australia and the defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park last week.

The second Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand was the first game that Wiese would be eligible again, having served his suspension and head coach Rassie Erasmus duly ushered him back into the starting XV.

Despite being banned, Wiese was included in the Springboks' squad and has been training with the group, with Erasmus joking that he was a 'professional trainer'.

Ahead of his return to the Green and Gold jersey, Wiese reflected on his 'stupid' action that resulted in his ban and said it was an honour to be back in the team, particularly with the challenge of facing South Africa's fiercest rivals, New Zealand.

"I'm very privileged to be back in the mix this week," he told reporters from Wellington.

"I was frustrated with myself over the past few weeks over something so stupid that I did. But I'm really excited to get going again. It's the All Blacks, as a Springbok, that is your biggest Test, so it's really just a massive privilege to be here, and I really worked hard over the last few weeks, so hopefully I can just go out and give my best on Saturday.

"It was really frustrating, but I was fortunate to still be in the system and train with the squad. But now I'm just excited and hungry to go out there and express myself, and hopefully we come away with the win."

South Africa will be out to bounce back from their 24-17 defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park when rugby's greatest rivalry returns to Sky Stadium in Wellington.

Wiese believes that the Boks need to be far more accurate at the set-pieces if they are to remain in the running for the Rugby Championship title.

"We had a good review of last weekend. The set-piece is going to be a big thing that we have to get right," he said.

"If you check the lineouts from last week, they contested our ball really well, and all credit to them, they came with a plan, and it worked really well.

"For us, it's about nailing our fundamentals and getting that right with our forwards laying a good foundation for our backs to go and express themselves. The forwards' jobs are to grind and graft, and that's how we express ourselves. Hopefully, we can lay the platform for the backs to play some good attacking rugby within our structures. Nailing our basics will be a key thing for us."

Wiese's younger brother, Cobus, made his Test debut in the same game that Jasper was red-carded and earned his maiden start a week later against Georgia, starting in the number eight jersey.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi also filled the role in older brother Wiese's absence as did Kwagga Smith, while Marco van Staden shone in the number six jersey.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup winner was asked whether he was wary of the competition in the position, particularly from his brother Cobus, considering their performances in his absence.

"No, I don't think that's in this squad's DNA to be like that," he replied.

"There isn't an A or B team, and we don't feel bad if someone else plays well in the same position as you.

"I look at how Siya and Marco have handled it, with them both playing well. I don't think anyone hopes that another guy doesn't play well, and it's something that makes this team so special. It's competitive, you have your work to do, and part of your responsibility is not to have an ego about it.

"It's about making the team better, you don't play for yourself; you play for 22 other players, the whole squad and the 40 other guys who want to be in the position that you are. I will never hope that someone else has a bad game to benefit me. It wouldn't be right. I'm very happy that Cobus played well.

"Also, for Siya and Marco, I don't think people understand how difficult it is to switch between six, seven and eight. I'm not sure if I'd have the same success that they did if I had to switch. I'm very happy that the guys did well." 

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