Saint to Springbok? Will Juarno Augustus fulfill his potential?
Juarno Augustus was the name on the tip of every Springboks fans’ tongue back in 2017 but it has been far from smooth sailing for the abrasive back rower since.
An unknown talent ahead of the U20 World Championship in 2017, Augustus laid down a marker in the competition dotting down seven times in the Junior Boks’ five games as he obliterated everything in his path and was named as the Player of the Tournament. This came off the back of a Craven Week snub and no pro contract.
The Stormers moved quickly to secure his services as Augustus was tipped to follow in the footsteps of Handre Pollard in representing the u20s and Springboks in the same year. However, the pieces didn’t quite fall into place for Augustus as they did for Handre.
Four years on and Augustus has completed a move to England signing a mega-deal with Northampton Saints after a stint in Cape Town where he didn’t realise his potential.
Still uncapped at test level, the move could bode well for Augustus’ career and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Duane Vermuelen is in the twilight of his test career and while Augustus is lower down the pecking order than he would like, he is in the mix.
Why is Northampton such a good fit?
A change of scenery can do the world of good for a player, especially one still so young. Cheslin Kolbe’s move to Toulouse is a classic example. Jasper Wiese’s move to Leicester took his game to another level while there are countless Raymond Rhule’s out there that have redefined their careers abroad.
In the extremely competitive environment, the Premiership provides, Juarno Augustus faces the toughest test of his career to date. But the 23-year-old has chosen wisely with his new boss, Chris Boyd.
He may well have picked up a heftier paycheck in France or Japan but under the tutelage of Boyd, Augustus has a world-class operator that will want to get the best out of his new signing.
A former New Zealand u20 head coach, Boyd helped develop the likes of Jordan Taufau, Ardie Savea, Lachlan Boshier with the youth squad as well as Gareth Evans during his time with the Hurricanes. He also worked with the likes of Brad Shields and Victor Vito at the Canes.
The Battle For His Position
The positional battle at Northampton further underpins the decision to join Boyd’s charges. Saints’ stalwart Tom Wood is a specialist at the breakdown and a voracious defender. Club captain Lewis Ludlum has a similar approach to defence with an equally powerful ball-carrying game. Then there is Teimana Harrison who will arguably be his biggest rival for a starting jumper.
6️⃣🤝8️⃣🤝7️⃣
This back row combo could be fun… 👀 pic.twitter.com/7GdlvzOLEy
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) September 13, 2021
Harrison like the other back rowers at the club is a well-rounded player with an extremely physical edge to his game.
Augustus ticks all the boxes that his new teammates do and some but his challenge will be to refine those skills and wrap all up in a well-oiled machine to compete at the highest level. Something Boyd will demand.
At 23, Juarno Augustus has time on his side to force his way back into test reckoning and having been involved with the Springbok Showdown, he is not completely out of the picture.
Shaun Ardendorf had a short yet successful stint with the Saints and the environment may have the same impact on Augustus. I for one believe that it will.
2017 gave us a glimpse at just what Augustus is capable of. We have seen small doses of the real ‘Trokkie’ since then but there is certainly more to come.
A Springbok jersey beckoned in 2017 and that opportunity may well come again. Augustus can still make his claim to be the long term successor to Duane Vermeulen. His journey to u20 stardom was an uncommon one. His route to Springbok stardom via Northampton would be just as uncommon.
