Nortje ready for Hong Kong as Blitzboks reset for SVNS World Championship

The Blitzboks will compete in Pool A against Uruguay, Spain and Argentina in the opening leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championship series, which will be staged at Kai Tak Sports Park.

Although it will be his first official outing of the season, Nortje has been preparing at the team's training base in Stellenbosch, where internal sessions have been described as highly competitive as the squad builds towards the tournament.

"The competitive excellence we are striving for is not just a slogan, it is a reality," said Nortje as the Biltzboks arrived in Hong Kong on Friday after their long-haul travel from Cape Town via Johannesburg.

"A training session at home is as tough as any match we play. Add the heat in Stellenbosch and the fact we have at least 20 guys eager to make the team for the next event, it is really a competitive environment.

"The nice thing about it is that the players really support and push each other and success to the travelling group also means success to those who stay behind, as it means that they also did their job to get the travelling squad match ready and tournament ready. A win for the guys on tour is a win for the guys at home as well."

Nortje’s return to the squad took longer than expected, with minor injuries repeatedly interrupting his progress, but the past few weeks have gone smoothly for the former Junior Springbok wing.

"It is great to be part of the playing squad again and going to Hong Kong makes all the hiccups earlier in the year worth it," the 23-year-old said.

"It remains one of the most sought-after tournaments for us. I have played here twice before and hopefully it will be third time lucky for us when it comes to winning it."

Nortje said the results in the HSBC SVNS Series, where the Blitzboks won four of the six tournaments, were a reward for the players' hard work, but stressed that the team starts afresh heading into the World Championship.

He added that the squad has strong defensive foundations. Despite beginning the previous tournament, the HSBC SVNS New York, without their season-leading tackler Shilton van Wyk, the Blitzboks still topped the defensive statistics. In the United States, Ryan Oosthuizen led the tackle count with 16, followed by Sebastiaan Jobb with 14, Selvyn Davids with 12, and Imp i Visser with 11.

"It shows how the guys worked for each other. It is not above the individual in this Blitzboks team."