Jaco van der Walt of Edinburgh, and formerly of the Lions, says it'll take the South African teams some time before adjusting to life playing in Europe in the United Rugby Championship. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Edinburgh utility back Jaco van der Walt has warned teams in the United Rugby Championship to not write off South African teams just yet.
Van der Walt, who played for the Lions before heading to Edinburgh a few year s ago, believes that the South African sides will adjust and do better as the competition goes on.
The Scottish international reckons that while the South African teams have only had one win out of eight in the two rounds of the competition thus far, they will improve as time goes on.
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The Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers previously played in the Super Rugby competition.
“It hasn’t been good for them so far, but you can’t underestimate the South African teams,” said Van der Walt after his team were beaten by a late drop goal in Treviso last weekend.
“They’re good teams with good individual players. They’re just getting used to a new tournament and to the weather as well – obviously in South Africa they get better weather and play expansive rugby.
“So it’s difficult for them to adjust to this weather to begin with, but it won’t take them long to get used to it and then we’ll see the best of them.”
This weekend, the Sharks face Ospreys on Friday, while on Saturday the Lions take on Glasgow Warriors, the Stormers are up against Edinburgh and the Bulls are away to Cardiff Blues.