When did you start playing rugby?

I started playing rugby properly when I was at school, probably about six or seven years old.

Who is the toughest prop you’ve ever come up against?

My teammate WP (Nel) is really tough. In training it’s good having him because you can scrum against him and iron yourself out. In opposition I’d say Rabah Slimani, the French tighthead, I found him quite difficult to scrum against.

What’s the best game you’ve played for Scotland and why?

It has to be my first cap against Australia. It was my first game at home so that made it special. It was fun, it was intense, but it was a good learning curve.

What’s your favourite place in Scotland?

Glencoe is beautiful, the mountains and lochs over there. I stayed in a cabin near there for a few days and I really enjoyed it.

Who’s been your best roommate and why?

Ben Toolis and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, because we get on really well. We click and we have the same kind of interests.

If you weren’t allowed to play a team sport ever again, which individual sport would you chose to compete in?

Sport’s hard work by yourself. I’d probably choose tennis, I enjoy tennis, although I’m not very good at it. And tennis players go to all the warm places – you never see them in a cold environment.

What’s your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

In South Africa you might get the full English breakfast, with eggs, bacon, sausages, but here you get tattie scones, haggis, black pudding, I really enjoy that. If I’m going out my go-to breakfast would be full Scottish with a cappuccino and a scone with clotted cream and jam. Then I don’t eat for the rest of the day.

What is the worst and best thing about being a top professional rugby player?

The strain that your body goes through is the worst. The best… on the weekend I really enjoy the national anthems and representing my country.