Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier looking to play himself back into Springbok contention

Cape Town — How do you play yourself back into Springbok contention? By getting the better of your fellow contenders – and Embrose Papier will get that chance when the Bulls face the Sharks on Saturday.

This United Rugby Championship clash at Loftus Versfeld (5.05pm kickoff) will see Papier – and his scrumhalf colleague Zak Burger – come up against two out of three Sharks halfbacks who were part of the Bok squad last year: Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams and Sanele Nohamba.

Hendrikse started in last Saturday’s 20-10 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town, with Williams coming on to the bench, while Nohamba was a replacement for the Currie Cup side in their 35-20 win over Western Province in Durban last Wednesday.

Of course, the top three scrumhalves in the national pecking order at the moment are Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies and Cobus Reinach, but Papier and Co will look to catch the eye of Bok coach Jacques Nienaber during the URC.

“Physically, I feel great. I just think I need to still do my basics well, and also stay in the system. If there is an opportunity (for the Boks), I have to take it,” Papier said after training at Loftus this week.

“Everybody who is playing rugby in South Africa wants to play for the Springboks. I still work as hard as I can. I am working hard on my basics, so if I can get that balance right – my kicking game, my passing, then everything will go well.

“I think it’s going to be a tough game. The Sharks are a really good squad. As we all know, they have a lot of Springboks in that team, so I think it’s going to be a big, physical battle. It’s difficult to come from the coast and play up here, so we must try to lift the tempo.

“If you look at their game against the Stormers, I think there are