Cobus Wiese says sharing the Springboks‘ jersey with his brother Jasper remains a surreal privilege, as the hard-nosed utility forward prepares to feature again for the Springboks in Saturday’s Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
For the Wiese family, seeing both brothers represent South Africa at international level is the ultimate reward for years of dedication.
Older brother Jasper made his Springbok debut at the age of 25 in 2021 against Georgia and went on to win the Rugby World Cup with the Boks in France two years later.
Cobus Wiese made his debut last year against Italy at the age of 28 in a Test when his brother was red-carded. The two have again featured in the same Test since, as Cobus started in two of the Springboks’ three Nations Championship Tests against Scotland and Wales, in which he put in a couple of impressive performances in the No 4 lock jersey in the absence of legend Eben Etzebeth.
“Jasper and I, and our whole family, are immensely proud and grateful for the opportunity,” Wiese told reporters from Buenos Aires ahead of Saturday’s Test against Argentina.
“Doing it once is special, but if we have the privilege, if we both stay fit and injury-free, doing it a few more times will be gold for us.
“I’m proud to share a Springbok jersey with my brother. I’m actually still a bit lost for words over how proud and grateful we are.”
That unyielding drive was forged long before professional rugby, built on the uncompromising demands of growing up on an Upington farm.
The Upington climate can be unforgiving in summer, with the mercury almost averaging 40 degrees during that period. The winters, on the other hand, are ice cold.
“Growing up on a farm, you work until the work is done. So there is no quitting time,” Wiese explained.
“The sense of responsibility you have… it’s moulded me more as a person rather than a player. I think other players have the same kinds of values from how they were brought up. At the end of the day, you have to have a strong work ethic to make it in rugby.”
Though still early in his international career with four Test caps to his name, Wiese has looked thoroughly at home in the Springbok setup this season.
He credits returning second-row icons Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager for easing his transition into the squad.
“Coming into the team as a new player, it can seem intimidating,” Wiese admitted. “But when you have world-class players beside you — I played with Eben at the Stormers and played with Lood in England — you can just pick their brains in preparation for a Test match.
“You can go out and express yourself because you have belief in the preparation. I wouldn’t say I’m comfortable, but I respect my role in the team and I’m happy to do it.”
Wiese also paid tribute to Etzebeth, who makes his long-awaited return to the starting XV for his 142nd Test cap.
“I think every time Eben puts a rugby jersey over his head, he is prepared to work and work incredibly hard,” Wiese said.
“You can see why he has been here 141 times before. He gives the guys around him so much confidence, and if we can follow suit, I think the team will be ready.”
Named on the bench alongside Ben-Jason Dixon as a versatile cover for lock and loose forward, Wiese remains unbothered by positional labels as long as he is contributing to the green and gold cause.
“At the moment, I’m a lock who can cover loose forward,” Wiese noted.
“I played a bit of loose forward before I went overseas, and England is probably the place where I settled in the second row. But if you get a chance to play in the Springbok team, you’ll play in any position they want.”
