Western Province utility back SP Marais is a pragmatic fighter who believes he could play for the Springboks eventually‚ but does not waste time thinking about it too much. He is a doer on the field and relishes every chance he has to play professional rugby after nearly quitting in frustration when he was almost penniless as one of the many unpaid players at the Southern Kings three years ago. Players’ salaries were unpaid and Marais was lucky enough to find piecemeal work at other unions. It led to stints at the Sharks and Bulls before arriving back in the Western Cape‚ from where he originally hails. "Technically I was retired and then a random call from [director of rugby] Gert Smal changed everything‚" the 29-year-old Marais said. WP offered him a lifeline and he plays like a man who refuses to waste a moment on the field. It has led to flashes of brilliance, genius even, and some moments of mirth and anguish. But he will always try to compete and create because it is in his na...
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