Once tipped as South Africa’s next great scrumhalf, Embrose Papier has the chance to remind Rassie Erasmus of his Test pedigree in the URC final against Leinster, writes MARK KEOHANE.

Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane says Saturday’s URC decider in Dublin offers Papier the perfect platform to force his way back into Springbok contention – seven years after earning his last cap.

Papier will start for the Bulls at Croke Park against a full-strength Leinster side packed with Irish internationals and bolstered by RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett. While Leinster are favourites, Keohane notes the Bulls have won three of the last five encounters – with Papier key in last week’s semi-final win over the Sharks.

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“Papier broke the game open early on in setting up winger Sebastian de Klerk and was electric for much of the match,” he writes. “A big day in Dublin could see him added to the Bok mix and leapfrog those selected.”

Papier has been in sublime form this season, starting 16 of 18 URC matches, beating 18 defenders, making seven clean breaks, seven offloads and 138 kicks for over 3600 metres – all while conceding just four penalties.

Keohane argues another standout performance in the final could bring things full circle for the 28-year-old, who was first picked by Erasmus in 2018 and remains “loyal to a province he adopted when moving from Darling to Pretoria as a 15-year-old”.

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Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images

The post Papier’s shot at Bok redemption appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

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