The 29-year-old Springboks wing admitted he has taken the sport seriously from a very young age because it was the only thing he was convinced he could make a success of.

He told Rugby World magazine: “I don’t come from money. So rugby was my thing and I had to make it work.

“If I look back at the [Stellenbosch Rugby] Academy, we had so much fun but I always tried to wake up early and run and put in the extras.

“I have a photo from back then and everyone in it is smiling and laughing, and I’m the only one sitting looking all serious.

“One of the guys sent it to me and said, ‘You could see you were taking it seriously.’

“Of course I did, I had to make something out of myself with rugby. I didn’t have much else to fall back on.”

The Sharks scrum half spent a “frustrating” three months out of action earlier this year after suffering a neck injury but made his return to the field for South Africa in July, though he later admitted he wished he had turned out for his club first.

He said: “I wish I could have played for the Sharks first,” he said. “There was a bit of nerves this week after a frustrating three months, but I’m happy we got the win and personally to be able to play again.

“There was obviously a little rust, but I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks.”