Ex-Blitzbok JC Pretorius has established himself as a vital part of the Emirates Lions pack since deciding to join the fifteen-man code two years ago.
Pretorius made a team-high seven successful carries as the Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 campaign by thrashing Edinburgh 55-21 at Ellis Park.
Impressed by Pretorius' rapid adjustment to the fifteen-man game, Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said "I don’t need him to get big-headed now, I don’t know who picks the man of the match or if JC is bribing them."
"You guys are seeing him stealing the ball, making massive yards on the edges and finishing tries and assisting tries for us. We love that, but what you don’t see is the team man that he is, the character that he is, how he gets the guys up and the toughness that he brings. That also makes a massive difference for us."
"Don’t blow too much smoke up his arse, but he brings a massive presence to the pack. I remember watching U21 games when he was still at the Bulls. He wasn’t as "vris" as he is now, but we just thought that this guy really plays the way we like to play. He had to go and win a few Sevens tournaments, but when we got him here, we were excited."
“The way he has grown into the fifteens, it’s really great to be part of that.”
Pretorius said that while the switch was not easy, but it was one he felt he had to make.
"When I came from the Sevens, I knew it was going to be a leap of faith, I hadn’t played fifteens in three years. When I arrived, everyone welcomed me with open arms. I learned a lot from my mentor, Jaco Kriel."
"There were a lot of challenges for me. The physical aspect of the game, sizing up a little bit. I stuck my head down and just kept on working hard to get where I am today."
"The reason I left the Sevens was that I felt I had achieved everything that I could. I played in every single tournament in the Sevens Series and in the Olympics, as well as the Commonwealth Games. By stepping away, I also felt I could give a younger up-and-coming player a chance."
"I had to take that leap of faith. I always try to go outside of my comfort zone. Whenever you are in your comfort zone, you never grow."