Embrose Papier is back in Springbok consideration, with Rassie Erasmus and his management team having made contact with the Bulls scrumhalf following injuries to Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach. Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed the contact at the team announcement press conference ahead of their URC clash against Zebre.
"The Boks made contact with him. There weren't any alignment camps again since the injuries to the Springbok No.9s, but they've made contact with him," Ackermann said. "I'm sure they're keeping an eye on him and spoke to him regarding work-ons in his games, which is good news for us as it means they're looking at him."
Ackermann was careful to manage expectations, noting that Williams is close to returning and that Bok selection remains outside Papier's control, but the attention from the national setup reflects the 28-year-old's form this season.
Papier, who has seven Test caps and has been out of the Springbok setup since 2018, will also make history off the bench against Zebre, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen's record of 169 appearances for the Bulls across all competitions. His 170th cap for the franchise places him ahead of a player widely regarded as the greatest scrumhalf South Africa has produced.
"For him to reach that achievement of surpassing Joost means you have to consistently play well to be selected, as Joost in his time was the world's best No.9," Ackermann said. "There's no doubt he would've been selected in any team, so for Embrose to break that record is massive."
Ackermann, who has known Papier since his schoolboy days, described him as a quiet but exceptional operator whose support play and speed have been central to the Bulls' campaign this season.