Jacques Potgieter

He became an honorary Australian by starring for the Waratahs in their Super Rugby triumph but Jacques Potgieter is set to go from teammate to fierce Test rival with a recall to the Springboks later this month.

The wildman flanker, who became a cult hero for NSW, is a favourite of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer and News Corporation understands Potgieter will be drafted into the South African squad for home games against Australia and New Zealand.

Potgieter is currently playing in Japan for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues but recently returned to South Africa on holidays and spoke with Meyer at the Boks’ first Test win over Argentina at Loftus Versfeld.

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Contacted last night in Japan, Potgieter said he was ready for an international recall after a year under Michael Cheika and said it would be a huge honour to play against his new “brothers” from the Waratahs in a Test match.

“That would be the highlight of my career, if I got selected to play for Springboks against the Wallabies in South Africa, playing against all those boys,” Potgieter said.

“I know boys like Michael Hooper and Cliffy Palu, they are very passionate people and they have a lot of respect for people that play hard. It would be so nice to play against those boys.

“We would go hard at each other and afterwards have a laugh. I am definitely ready for that, if Heyneke decides.”

Potgieter played three Tests for the Springboks in 2012, the first year of Meyer’s reign.

Meyer said this week he’d spoken with Potgieter at Loftus Versfeld about his perceptions of Australians, and pointed towards an impending selection.

“He said they’re tough guys, and great guys to be with. And I know Jacques is a tough guy, I always like Jacques in my teams,” Meyer said.

Potgieter resumed playing last weekend after a post-Super Rugby break – conceivably the reason behind a delayed selection by Meyer – but said he’d been training hard, and was more ready for Test rugby than ever.

“Obviously I think I am playing well. Michael Cheika brought the best out of me, and I really think I am ready to get that call-up again. If Heyneke decides to do that, I will be ready,” he said.

“Me and Heyneke had a good chat, and obviously it is still one of my dreams to play for the Springboks. As a rugby player you always want to play at the highest level.

It is all the hard work paying off to be selected to play for your country. It is still one of my dreams, and I am training hard at the moment. If I get selected I will be ready for that.”

Going head to head with Waratahs teammates as a Springbok in Cape Town on September 27 would take an adjustment but Potgieter will get a chance to acclimatise watching Saturday’s Test in Perth.

The hard forward – who became a hugely popular figure inside the Waratahs sheds – said it was two groups of mates doing battle.

“It is difficult for me to talk about the weekend’s game,” he said.

“The Waratahs guys became like brothers to me. We are really a very tight family at the Waratahs but I come from South Africa. There is that brotherhood I have with the Waratahs but I played for my country, and am a very proud South African. In both teams it is my mates, and they’re playing against each other.

“I just want to see an exciting game of rugby and I know that’s going to happen because they both have exciting backs.

“I am looking forward to the game, but I can’t call it.”