Why Rynhardt Elstadt is the Springbok with the most on his plate this week

• Rynhardt Elstadt has candidly revealed he's probably been the busiest Springbok this week on the training field.
• That's down to the versatile loose forward having to cover three positions on the bench for the first Test against the British & Irish Lions.
• Elstadt says he's honoured to have been chosen after fending off competition from various other team-mates.

When the Springboks complete their preparations for Saturday's first Test against the British & Irish Lions, no man arguably would've been busier than Rynhardt Elstadt.

The versatile 31-year-old loose forward, fresh from yet another French Top 14 title with Toulouse, is the only flanker on South Africa's bench for the match after national coach, Jacques Nienaber, decided to shelve the famed 6-2 split, Bomb Squad strategy due to some reservations over the match fitness of some of his backs.

As a result, Elstadt's importance has increased because he's capable of playing in all three positions of the loose trio as well as at lock.

But preparing oneself for any contingency means one also has a lot of homework to do.

And Elstadt doesn't deny he's been pre-occupied to the hilt.

"It's been expected from day one to fulfil whatever opportunity I get to fulfil," the straight-talking former Stormers stalwart said.

"I think I've got the most workload of everyone in training, because I need to know some of the lock stuff, I need to know the loose forwards' work roles as well. But we do kind of combine it, working together, so each one of the boys knows the other's role.

"So that makes it a little bit easier, but being a forward coming off the bench, you put in a lot more work than the guys starting."

That Elstadt, who candidly revealed that his disappointment at missing out on World Cup selection in 2019 was minimal because of Rassie Erasmus and co's clear communication, has been entrusted with his role is a feather in his cap.

There had been no shortage of viable candidates to provide different options at loose forward - Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese and Jean-Luc du Preez. 

"Every player that played in the warm-up matches really stuck up their hand and gave their everything. I was just really surprised that I was named in the side. It's an honour for me and I hope I can live up to the standard," said Elstadt.

"Coming from the bench, we play quite an important role. To lift the intensity where the boys have left off, that is going to be expected from us. I hope we don't disappoint the guys out there."

Perhaps, in the end, it was Elstadt's superior knowledge of the Lions' resources - having played extensively in the European Champions Cup - that ensured he was given the nod.

"I think my experience in Europe makes a big difference for the Lions tour," he said.

"We have a bit of insight into what we could expect. Even the match we played last Wednesday, we could see the European style coming through, and I think we managed to work around a few things that we weren't going to expect from them."

Kick-off on Saturday is at 18:00.