'I never expected it': Captain Esterhuizen takes a leaf out of Siya Kolisi's book

SPOTLIGHT: Andre Esterhuizen has opened up about the experiences that have “shaped” him to become the Springboks’ new captain.

The 32-year-old will lead South Africa from his normal midfield position against Australia in Perth on Sunday.

He has evolved from a player who was on the fringes of Bok selection a few years ago to being an integral part of Rassie Erasmus’ plans going forward.

One of those plans involved converting Esterhuizen into a so-called hybrid player, which has seen him play as a flanker in the Bok setup.

It took a while for the bruiser to get to this point, which has included a successful stint with Harlequins in England in between his spells with the Sharks.