Northampton Saints unleash their towering lock JJ van der Mescht, standing 6ft 7in and weighing 146kg, for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath at the Rec. Spectators may feel the ground tremble as the 26-year-old South African thunders into contact, delivering bone-jarring tackles that highlight his inclusion in the Springboks’ alignment squad for upcoming Tests against England, Scotland, and Wales.
Reunion with Former Teammate
Van der Mescht eagerly anticipates clashing with Bath prop Thomas du Toit, his former Sharks colleague from Durban. He packed down behind du Toit as a youngster and relishes the challenge. “Oh, 100%, yeah. And he’ll do the same to me. It’s a respect thing. I’ll feel disrespected if he comes in softly against me. I love Thomas. He’s a great human being who helped me a lot when I was younger,” van der Mescht says.
He vividly recalls a grueling pre-season octagon drill at age 18 against forwards like du Toit, Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, and the Du Preez brothers. “I remember we trained against each other in an octagon. We had to throw each other out of the ring. It was tough… I lost. I think the Beast won.”
Early Days and Unique Physique
During a school exchange at New Hall in Essex, van der Mescht, already 6ft 4in or 5in at 14, left lasting impressions on local players. Son of a professional wrestler and a 6ft 3in netball international, he clocked 11 seconds flat for 100m as a schoolboy. Now sporting size 16 feet—second only to Australia’s Will Skelton—he mirrors the Wallaby’s style. Both too heavy for frequent lineout lifts, they excel in close-quarters power. “We can do things other people can’t,” van der Mescht explains.
Revived Career at Saints
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson and scrum coach Jaco Pienaar, formerly with the Sharks, signed van der Mescht after his release from Stade Français. “People are getting bigger but he’s genuinely a freak,” Dowson notes. “Jaco said he was a fly-half trapped in a second-row’s body. People talk about what JJ can’t do but you’ve got to look at what he can do.”
The move reignited his passion. “Since I’ve been here something has clicked. Previously I felt like I was in a constant loop… rugby felt like a chore rather than something I loved. Since coming to Saints I’ve got that passion and enjoyment back,” he shares. He fasts until one evening meal, shedding seven kilos, with Pienaar’s barbecues fueling his frame. “Jaco loves a braai. I think JJ does the eating,” Dowson adds.
Springboks Potential and Bath Focus
Van der Mescht eyes a Springboks call-up, understanding the depth at lock. “We’ve got amazing locks in South Africa and if I don’t fit into their gameplan I understand why.” Dowson sees vast potential: “I’m delighted he’s back on the South African radar… There’s loads more in JJ.”
Saints prioritize toppling Bath, drawing from their 41-21 league win in December where Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick. With Fin Smith fit at fly-half, they aim to dominate. Van der Mescht remains confident: “I feel like we’re going to give our best. We have a lot to prove and people have already written us off. We want to show we can compete in this competition.”
