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Brian Mujati.
The 26-year-old is likely to bounce back for South Africa’s Springboks when coach Peter de Villiers announces the foreign-based troop for the 2011 international season.
Mujati has 12 caps for the Springboks and 10 of those came as a substitute.
De Villiers cannot afford to ignore the Northampton Saints forward who is in top form and has caused a lot of problems for opposition in England.
He is rated as one of the best front rowers in the Northern Hemisphere and his experience, in that part of the world, will definitely help South Africa.
Having made his debut in 2008, the prop decided to move to England following alleged racial and political attacks in 2009 after spending two seasons with the Stormers.
Mujati and another Zimbabwean born prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira – who both went to Peterhouse school in Marondera – were part of a vital Springbok front row.
And De Villiers could be tempted to bring back the combination.
Yesterday, De Villiers announced a squad of more than 40 South Africa-based players for his side’s first planning session in Cape Town on May 1 and 2 in the build-up to the World Cup.
Mujati is not in the squad as he is based overseas, but is one of a handful of players that may well come into the reckoning further down the line.
He is excelling for the Saints in Europe and reports have indicated that his excellent form has come to the attention of the Springbok selectors with former Boks prop Cobus Visagie speaking highly of the player.
“I regard him as one of the best tight-head props in the world,” Visagie said on Tuesday.
“Almost nobody here (in South Africa) has managed to put him under pressure in the scrums.
“His binding technique is 100 percent and he seldom concedes penalties. Brian also has a good work-rate and recently scored a few tries.”
Visagie has first-hand knowledge of Mujati’s form – the former Bok is the scrumming consultant at Saracens and therefore has good knowledge of the front-row talent in Europe.
South Africa also boasts a world class tight-head in Jannie du Plessis, but Visagie believes the Boks could certainly benefit from adding Mujati to the mix.
“I think South Africa needs a bit of mobility,” added Visagie.
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder believes Mujati is mature enough to make it for the Springboks’ World Cup side and have given a two-year contract extension at the Saints.
“Brian has shown he has what it takes to compete at the top end of the Premiership.
“He has improved a lot as a player over the last year and his performances reflect the work he has put in off the field.
“But he is still a young man and we believe he has his best years in front of him.”