Vincent Tshituka arrived in South Africa as a Congolese refugee in 2002, and his path to the Springbok jersey was blocked not by ability but by home affairs bureaucracy — citizenship arrived only in 2024, with SA Rugby president Mark Alexander eventually having to intervene to secure the documents needed for eligibility. With xenophobic unrest again sweeping the country, Tshituka speaks candidly about the sorrow he and his family feel watching scenes that echo the vulnerability his own family once faced, while making clear he considers himself fully South African. His Kolisi comparison is pointed: background doesn't dictate who you become. On the rugby side, Tshituka is clear-eyed about what the Springbok environment has exposed in his game — he's been reactive rather than proactive, and at Test level that gap is unforgiving. He's also navigating the hybrid-player paradox: versatility gets you into the squad, but mastery of a position keeps you there, and he's increasingly committed to owning the lock role.