Joseph Dweba keeps Springboks ambitions burning as Exeter stint fuels development

The powerhouse hooker featured six times in the Green and Gold jersey between 2021 and 2023, but has not added to his tally since, while the  Springboks have tightened their grip on the Test game courtesy of another Rugby World Cup victory alongside successive Rugby Championship titles.

Dweba faces the unenviable task of competing with some of the best hookers in the world for a spot in the Boks' squad, with the likes of reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx, double World Cup-winner Bongi Mbonambi and Johan Grobbelaar all featuring in recent Tests, but he has not yet given up on his hopes of a recall.

"100 percent, it's still a desire to play for them," Dweba said.

"As a player, you just need to perform. The moment you perform on the field, you'll get a shot.

"I'm focusing on performing for the club, and if we do well, then the rest will take care of itself."

His words also follow those of Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, who previously aired his belief that Dweba, who joined Exeter this off-season from the Stormers, could work his way back into Test contention in a similar way to that of Nic White and Dean Mumm during their stints at Sandy Park.

"Nic's still playing (for Australia) now, he left us four years ago," Baxter told BBC Sport back in September.

"We signed him when he wasn't in any international recognition at all, played two seasons with us and has never stopped playing for Australia since.

"Dean Mumm was the same. He dropped out of international recognition, had an OK season with the Waratahs, came back and was inspirational for us to the degree that Australia wanted him back for a World Cup.

"I don't see Joseph being any different in his career. I think there's a lot left in him.

"He thinks there's a lot left in him, and he's training and playing like there's a lot left there.

"I'd like to think you'll see a really revived Joseph Dweba this season. I'd like to think you'd see him as a revived player in a revived Exeter Chiefs team."

The 30-year-old has quickly become a regular feature in the Devonians' match-day 23 this season, as they mount a serious charge for the PREM play-offs and EPCR Challenge Cup glory, and he was also a key member of their run to the PREM Rugby Cup Final earlier this year.

"I've definitely enjoyed it (in Exeter)," Dweba added. "Coming from different competitions, this one (the PREM) reminds me of Super Rugby, where one small mistake and someone is scoring a try and how quick and physical it is. I'm enjoying it.

"As a player, you always look at the club and the coach, and Rob Baxter has a track record. He was a guy that I wanted to play for and improve my game.

"Coming over to the PREM and having all these different mindsets, when I got the opportunity to come to Exeter, I jumped at it and said, 'I want you to help me become a better player'.

"I've grown as a player," he continued. "When you come from different clubs, and speaking of age too, I was a lot younger.

"As a young player, you're always looking at the leaders who are older than you and have been in the system for such a long time, but now that role is reversed. Now you are the older one with experience.

"It's how you channel your experience and actually speak to the younger players and help them help you. Coming here really helped me in that situation off the field."