Northampton Giants Ready for Champions Cup Battle: Van der Mescht Eyes Bath Reunion

When Northampton Saints take the field at Bath's Recreation Ground on Friday for their Champions Cup quarter-final, few players will command attention quite like JJ van der Mescht. Standing 6ft 7in tall and weighing 146kg, the South African lock represents the kind of imposing physical presence that can change the trajectory of big matches.

Van der Mescht, now 26, brings more than just his massive frame to this highly anticipated encounter. The contest holds special significance as he prepares to face former teammate Thomas du Toit, with whom he once shared the pitch at the Sharks in Durban during their younger days.

"Oh, 100%, yeah. And he'll do the same to me. It's a respect thing. I'll feel disrespected if he comes in softly against me," van der Mescht said when asked about targeting his old colleague. "I love Thomas. He's a great human being who helped me a lot when I was younger."

Their history runs deep, forged during intense training sessions that tested the mettle of young forwards. Van der Mescht vividly remembers pre-season sessions where teenage prospects were thrown into physical contests with established stars including du Toit and the legendary Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira.

"I remember we trained against each other in an octagon. We had to throw each other out of the ring. It was tough. I was 18 and going in against the Beast, Thomas and the Du Preez brothers. You had to prove yourself," he recalled with characteristic honesty. "I lost. I think the Beast won."

Those formative experiences helped shape the player who now stands as joint-heaviest in the Premiership, sharing that distinction with Australia's Will Skelton. Both players have carved out unique roles despite being too heavy for regular lineout lifting duties.

"We can do things other people can't," van der Mescht explained, highlighting the specialized skill set that makes oversized locks valuable in modern rugby. His ability to generate crucial post-contact meters has caught the attention of South African selectors, earning him inclusion in an alignment squad for upcoming Tests.

Phil Dowson, Saints' director of rugby, praised his acquisition of the towering forward. "People are getting bigger but he's genuinely a freak," Dowson observed. "When we looked at him Jaco said he was a fly-half trapped in a second-row's body. He also said people talk about what JJ can't do but you've got to look at what he can do."

The move to Northampton has reinvigorated van der Mescht's career after a difficult period at Stade Français. "Since I've been here something has clicked. Previously I felt like I was in a constant loop… rugby felt like a chore rather than something I loved," he admitted. "Since coming to Saints I've got that passion and enjoyment back."

Part of that renewal comes from his unique lifestyle approach. Van der Mescht practices intermittent fasting, consuming just one meal per day, which has helped him drop seven kilograms since joining the club. His eating habits have become something of a running joke, particularly his relationship with scrum coach Jaco Pienaar's barbecue skills.

"Jaco loves a braai," Dowson noted with amusement. "I think JJ does the eating."

Saints enter Friday's encounter with confidence built on their impressive 41-21 league victory at Bath in December. That performance showcased their attacking capabilities even with a supposedly weakened lineup, as Tommy Freeman grabbed a hat-trick of tries.

With England fly-half Fin Smith returning from injury, Northampton possesses the backline talent to complement their forward power. The combination of technical skill and raw physicality makes them formidable opponents, particularly when van der Mescht is thundering into contact.

"We want to show we can compete in this competition," van der Mescht declared, embracing the underdog narrative that has followed Saints into this knockout phase. "We have a lot to prove and people have already written us off."

For van der Mescht, Friday represents another step in his rugby renaissance, with the added spice of facing old friends in the cauldron of European competition.