Opening the window on what he goes through immediately prior to kickoff, the quietly spoken South African offers a fascinating insight into the anxiety he suffers before running out in front of thousands of fans.
“Before the game, I kind of get a little anxious, and I almost throw up before the game,” the fearsome 26-year-old No.8 said.
“It all just builds up at once, five minutes before kick-off. But as soon as I run onto the field it all just disappears because I know I am going into battle with my team-mates, brothers of mine, and they’ll have my back if anything goes wrong. That’s just me.
“I don’t know what it is. I don’t think it is nerves about not doing well or being scared and afraid to play or about getting injured. When that happens I know that I really want
to do it, it shows that I really care.”
Augustus overcame a knee “niggle” to start the season off the bench in the defeat at Bath, replacing Sam Graham with half an hour to play.
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