Kurt-Lee Arendse believes playing club rugby in Japan helped him bring an even more attack-minded approach to the Springboks.

Arendse started on the left wing for the Boks against the Barbarians in Cape Town and Italy in Pretoria, scoring a try in both matches. He will wear the No 11 jersey again on Saturday when South Africa take on Georgia in Nelspruit.

The 29-year-old has scored 19 tries in 25 Tests and continues to be one of the Boks’ biggest attacking threats.

Arendse spent a six-month sabbatical in Japan Rugby League One with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars, where he says the style of play suited his natural strengths.

“I think it helped me a lot to play in Japan, because the coaches there gave me a lot of freedom,” he said on Wednesday. “In most of the games, I played fullback and that’s something I really enjoyed.

“It almost felt like I was back in sevens again – lots of running rugby, which I love. At the Springboks, there are also a lot of opportunities to play attacking rugby.”

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Arendse was a standout for the Blitzboks between 2019 and 2021, including at the Tokyo Olympics, before making his Test debut against Wales in Bloemfontein the following year.

The Bulls star will line up alongside Edwill van der Merwe in the back three this weekend, and welcomed the fierce competition for wing spots in the Bok camp, with players like Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi also in the mix.

“Guys are constantly coming through the system. You see it now with the Junior Boks – they’re putting their hands up. It’s good for our rugby,” said Arendse.

“When you get an opportunity to play, you always want to give your best. It’s always special for me to represent my country, no matter who we’re playing against.”

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