Springbok winger Kurt-Lee Arendse gears up for international season after Japanese stint

After one season in Japan, Springbok winger Kurt-Lee feels his game has grown significantly as he prepares for another blockbuster international season with the world champions.

 The 27-year-old was part of the squad that started the first game of the season against the Barbarians yesterday evening in Cape Town as they looked to lay the perfect platform for the international season.

The Springboks will play 13 Tests this year, with another one in the making but yet to be confirmed.

Arendse, who played for the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynoboars, resumed his deadly wing partnership with Kolbe against the Baabaas yesterday evening.

However, it was against the likes of his winger partner (Tokyo Sungoliath) and fellow Boks like Jasper Wiese ( Urayasu D-Rocks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), and Kwagga Smith (Blue Revs) in Japan where he sharpened this attacking play before he joined the Bok camp.

“I definitely reached some of the goals that I set out for myself before I went over to Japan,” Arendse said about his stint overseas.

“What I learnt here at the Boks, I tried to carry over to my teammates at the Dynaboars. It was amazing to experience rugby somewhere else. There is no pressure on and off the field. I just played my rugby. That is what it is all about for me.

“The game is quick, but not very different to rugby over this side. The support we get from people in Japan also surprised me quite a bit. They love the Springboks, and it was good to see how they even supported me when I got there.”

Back in the national fold, Arendse wants to keep his head down and work hard to keep in contention for the rest of the matches of the season. The Boks will be building up towards the Rugby Championship over the next three Tests when they face Italy twice and Georgia.

Arendse says the start to the Bok camp was a tough one this year and they had one of the most gruelling pre-season fitness sessions with the coaches. He had to wait a week before joining the on-field sessions due to regulations but was with the team for their two-week camp in Johannesburg.

“It was tough, but the squad needed the pre-season fitness camp. This will be a long season and not an easy one. The coaches are pushing us hard, and the guys are buying into what the coaches are planning and what they want us to do.

“We help the young guys in camp and in return, they help the old guys. Everyone wants to play. In the end, it is the squad that wins. It is good for South African rugby. We needed a pre-season like that.

“Things look different in camp and one thing coach Rassie is speaking about is that some of the guys are getting older and we must consider it. But it doesn’t mean we must slack down on training. The guys are buying in with what the coaches are planning.”

Due to his commitments in Japan, Arendse missed out on representing the Bulls in the playoffs of the United Rugby Championship (URC). Director of rugby Jake White was hopeful he could use the flyer after his journey in Japan ended early enough, but the Loftus side was barred from utilising him.

That meant that he missed the quarters, semis, and final against Leinster in Dublin. It was a game he was missed in, especially his game-breaking abilities as the Bulls lost for the third time in a URC final.

“I thought this year was going to be the Bulls’ year. I guess there is always another opportunity. The season wasn’t even finished, and the next fixtures were already announced.

“However, it was not nice to see them not taking the URC this year.”