Salmaan Moerat may face his fair share of criticism, but inside the Springbok camp the faith in the Stormers captain remains strong.
That is the message from Bok forwards coach Deon Davids, who backed the 28-year-old at the recent media conference in Cape Town.
“As a player he has the quality to play at Test level,” Davids said, as quoted by Rapport.
“If you look at Salmaan’s history as a player from his school days at Paarl Boys’ High, he has always had the ability to be an excellent leader.
“He is a good team man, as well as a hardworking and intelligent player.
“In his position he is very physical for a No 4 lock. He gives us momentum, stops momentum and is physical in general play, especially at the breakdowns.”
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Moerat was among the locks invited to Rassie Erasmus’ first Springbok alignment camp of 2026 in Cape Town, alongside established stars such as Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortjé.
The Stormers skipper is currently sidelined after suffering a toe injury against the Sharks in January, ruling him out for the remainder of the Vodacom URC season.
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Moerat has played 11 Tests and captained the Springboks three times, becoming the nation’s 65th Test captain against Portugal in 2024.
Davids believes the lock’s value lies in the often unseen work he brings to the team.
“He has the ability to create momentum and to be dominant. To do the hard work without the ball.
“That is an indication of a player who has proven himself and shown that he can play Test rugby.
“Like any player you look for that perfect player, but it is a combination of performance and having the right mindset.”
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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