Lions lock Etienne Ooshuizen says he is enjoying his rugby with the SA Shield-winning Lions.
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For veteran Lions lock Etienne Oosthuizen, the chance of wearing the Springbok jersey has probably come and gone.
It’s largely due to career-threatening myocarditis that saw him give up the game for two years after being diagnosed with the heart condition in 2020 while playing for French club Lyon. After stepping away from rugby, he worked as a real estate agent, before returning to the game he loves with the Lions in 2023.
Since then, Oosthuizen has been one of the pillars of strength in the Lions’ pack, and at 33 years old he is still playing to a very high standard. Sadly, though, his dreams of running out in the green and gold are gone.
But he does get to experience the joy and excitement that his teammates feel when they come back from one of coach Rassie Erasmus’ alignment camps. He, like his other Lions teammates not involved in the national set-up at the moment, is witnessing the positive effect of the call-ups.
“The players coming back from the alignment camps don’t normally chat about it in detail, but they do bring that energy and drive the standards for us when they are back with the team,” Oosthuizen told the media this week.
“That’s a good thing for us. Not all of us get to go there, and they bring that experience back, that drive and hunger. That lifts us up as a team as well.”
Oosthuizen doesn’t seem to need more drive at the moment, as he has been one of the Lions’ most consistent performers in a rather topsy-turvy campaign, which has included great highs and incredible lows. He seems to be enjoying his rugby as much as he did when the Lions gave him a second chance three years ago.
“If I go back three or four years ago, I was done with rugby. To get a second chance and the opportunity to play rugby again, to be constantly on the field, it means the world to me,” Oosthuizen said.
“I quite enjoy it, my wife is very supportive of it and I can be an example for my two sons growing up.”
After beating the Stormers to lift the United Rugby Championship SA Shield, Oosthuizen is hoping that they can build a bit of momentum and much-needed consistency in their quest to secure a playoff berth.
The Lions are currently in seventh position following successive wins over the Sharks and the Stormers in their previous two matches. On Saturday, they take on Edinburgh at Ellis Park, hoping to consolidate their position in the top eight.
“When we started this season our aim was to get into the top eight. To top that off with a SA Shield win for the first time in four years, it just shows the growth of the team. We have a young, exciting team with a lot of talent,” Oosthuizen said.
“Being part of that, as an older guy in the team, it’s about leading by example and trying to get the young guys out of their shells and express themselves. The morale picks up with every win. Having two wins in a row now here at Ellis Park gives us confidence.”
But Oosthuizen says they are wary of the dangerous Scots, especially their ability to strike with their dangerous backs.
“We can’t underestimate any team at the moment. They will be desperate for a win. They are obviously very dangerous on the counter-attack, so I think our defence will be our main priority on the weekend, to keep them out and strike from turnover ball,” he added.
“Set-piece time will be a big battle. If we can lay a good foundation for the weekend, we are 70% there. If you look at the Bulls and the Stormers, the Stormers dominated the set-piece and you could see the reward they got from it. In any game, if you can dominate the set-piece, you have a bigger chance of winning.”