Vincent Tshituka’s “race” to make his Springbok bow against the Barbarians on Saturday represents the culmination of a long-held dream for the Sharks loose forward, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.

Saturday’s historic clash represents everything Tshituka envisioned during his eligibility struggles, the DRC-born flanker set to run out in the world champions’ 2025 season opener at Cape Town Stadium.

Joining Rassie Erasmus for Tuesday’s team announcement in Cape Town, a beaming Tshituka reflected on the process that kept him and brother Emmanuel out of the national team selection picture due to a delay in receiving their South African IDs.

“That was something I’ve tried to get for quite a while, and everybody asks me that question. My response is always: getting the passport doesn’t put me in the squad, there’s still a selection process,” the 26-year-old said.

“Off the back end of the season obviously people have been ‘ja, you’re going to play for the Springboks, you’re going to make it’. But that was always the best-case scenario for me and I tried to put it on the back-burner.

MORE: How Daan’s farm whipped Asenathi into shape

“For me it was just, ‘let me get the passport, let me be eligible to be in the race’, because without it I was never in the race. I felt like that was just the ticket to participate and then being selected for a Test match is winning a medal.”

Finally receiving clearance brought relief for the former Lions star not just personally, but for his entire support network, and he expects an electric atmosphere in the Mother City this weekend.

“The opportunity to be a part of the race was massive, and getting that through was big for me and my brother and my family as a whole … It’s a dream come true,” Tshituka said. 

“For me being involved is already a spectacle on its own, just for me and my family supporting me along the journey. Outside of that, Cape Town is known for coming out and its crowd.

“I’ve no doubt that it’s going to be loud, and it’ll be an atmosphere that will be hard to forget. I’ll try focusing on doing my best, because it’s a great opportunity at this level. It’s honestly everything, and I’m excited for the game.”

Since joining the Sharks from the Lions in 2022, Tshituka has become a cornerstone of their forward pack, helping John Plumtree’s men capture the 2023-24 EPCR Challenge Cup before leading them to Currie Cup glory last year.

RASSIE: It’s a chance for rookies to measure up

Saturday’s debut launches what could be an extended international career, with Tests against Italy and Georgia following in July.

Perhaps most significantly, Tshituka now finds himself playing alongside those he previously admired from afar, including two-time World Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.

“I’ve been privileged enough to work with a couple of them at the Sharks but it’s obviously a little different now, because you’re working with your heroes,” he said. “I remember seeing Pieter-Steph [du Toit] walk and I was like, ‘ja, that’s one of the greats right there’.

“That’s a privilege that not many [people] get … and everyone is working together and wants to achieve the same thing.”

The national team environment has impressed the 2024 Currie Cup-winning captain, although he discovered the harsh realities of Bok conditioning during the recent Highveld camp, having grown accustomed to Durban’s sea-level training.

“The guys who are preparing us for the Barbarians, there’s a togetherness. I’ve personally enjoyed that, and there’s nobody that their door is closed and everyone is willing to help and make this boat go faster,’ Tshituka said.

“But it’s funny, because coming from Johannesburg I never knew the fuss about altitude, and then after the three years in Durban I went to do a fitness test there [on the Highveld] and it was one heck of a show, I’ll tell you that!

“It was one of the hardest fitness tests I’ve ever done… It definitely tested me in a way I’m not used to – but in the best way possible.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images