Earlier this season, powerful No 8 Juarno Augustus looked set to finally end years of waiting for senior Springbok honours after he was called up to the wider squad by Rassie Erasmus.
His outstanding form for the Northampton Saints last season did not go unnoticed, and the former U20 World Rugby Player of the Year deservedly received his first call-up to a Springbok alignment camp.
With the likes of Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw injured, it appeared to the be the perfect opportunity for Augustus to make his senior Springbok debut.
This would almost certainly have been the case considering Jasper Wiese subsequently also picked up a four-game suspension prior to the Rugby Championship, but Augustus was ultimately unable to report for duty with the Springboks.
Can Juarno Augustus now return to the Springboks?
The reason the 27-year-old was unable to link up with the Springboks earlier this year was due to the fact that matters became complicated at club level after Augustus took the difficult decision to leave Northampton and move to Irish club Ulster.
Augustus needed to be cleared by Northampton Saints to join Irish team Ulster, but he failed his exit medical, and ultimately SA Rugby could not interfere with this process until it was cleared up.
Back to fitness and form
Thankfully, the big No 8 looks to have bounced back quickly, with his most recent performance for Ulster certainly catching the eye.
Considering the experience Augustus has of playing in the northern hemisphere, and the attributes he could add at No 8 as a physical ball carrier and defender, it certainly seems like the right time to add him to the squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour.
https://x.com/UlsterRugby/status/1978419506163691673
