Aranos Coetzee will bring up his 150th cap for the Cheetahs on Friday, and the veteran tighthead prop is still relishing every scrum.
The 38-year-old is set to reach the milestone in the SA Cup clash against the Pumas in Bloemfontein on Friday, capping a career defined by durability, loyalty and old-school grit.
Reflecting on the toughest tests of his career, Coetzee pointed to one familiar opponent – Ox Nché.
“Old Ox was always a great guy for me to scrum against, and I think he gave me the toughest challenges,” Coetzee told Netwerk24.
The two heavies went head-to-head regularly in training during Nché’s time in Bloemfontein, sharpening each other in sessions that clearly left a lasting impression.
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While Coetzee has packed down against some of the game’s best, one moment still stands above the rest – the Cheetahs’ 2016 Currie Cup final triumph against the Bulls.
“That was the highlight for me, with the stadium packed to capacity.”
It remains a defining memory in a career that has also taken him to three World Cups with Namibia – a journey that, for now, has reached its end after the side failed to qualify for the next tournament.
“It’s sad, I would have loved to do it, but you also give other countries a chance. I’ve had my three tournaments, so it’s alright.”
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Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
