Papier's resurgence comes amid a phenomenal season where his performances have not gone unnoticed. Despite a crowded field of talent vying for the Springboks' scrum-half position, Papier has been in electrifying form, netting five man-of-the-match awards this year alone. His attacking prowess is underscored by nine tries this season, placing him just behind the Stormers' Evan Roos in the try-scoring charts.
However, despite his on-field exploits, Papier has been absent from recent national team assemblies. This could change soon, as injuries have sidelined key players like Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach, opening a potential slot for Papier. Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann shared insights from a recent communication between Papier and the Springboks' head coach Rassie Erasmus. "There hasn’t been another camp, but they have made contact with him so I’m sure they’re keeping an eye on him," Ackermann noted, indicating the national team's interest in Papier's recent form.
"They’ve chatted to him about some of things he needs to improve on. That’s good news for us because it means they’re looking at him, but nothing is for certain,"
Ackermann added, highlighting the ongoing dialogue with the national team.Ackermann was effusive in his praise for Papier, reflecting on his journey from a promising school-level player to a key figure in the Bulls' lineup. "He was outstanding at school and obviously took it forward in his professional career," Ackermann remarked. "He’s a very quiet person but he’s a really exceptional nine. The outstanding factors for me are his support play and his speed. The fact that he’s in such good form for us is great, because that was in many matches the deciding factor."
As the Bulls gear up to face Zebre, the team lineup includes Willie Le Roux at fly-half, Marco van Staden at hooker, and the potentially record-setting Papier ready to make a significant impact from the bench. This match not only presents an opportunity for Papier to etch his name in the Bulls' history books but also to reinforce his case for a much-anticipated return to the Springboks squad.