CAPE TOWN: They began their rugby careers in Cape Town, but ACT Brumbies twins Jean-Pierre and Ruan Smith expect to cop a verbal lashing when they play in their hometown as the enemy this weekend.
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The South African-born identical twins are back in the city where they cut their teeth as junior rugby players who dreamed of playing for the Cape Town-based Stormers.
While the touring Brumbies split into groups to experience Cape Town's sights on Wednesday, the Smith brothers visited family, friends and former teammates they will face-off against at Newlands on Sunday morning (Australian time).
The Smiths grew up idolising Stormers captain Jean De Villiers and veteran flanker Schalk Burger, but never imagined returning as the enemy.
"We will definitely be sledged in Afrikaans," Jean-Pierre said. "But I think it will be in a joking kind of way. There will be the odd fan who's angry, but wherever you go you will always get that.
"We were in the Western Province rugby institute, we've known Cape Town as our home. A lot of our close friends are still here.
"It's a bonus coming back here, this has been the game I've been looking forward to since 2013 when I joined the Brumbies."
Only Brumbies staff were game to dive with Great White Sharks, while players visited the jail cell of former South Africa president Nelson Mandela at Robben Island, or took in views from Table Mountain.
Mandela died two years ago and Brumbies winger Joseph Tomane was inspired by visiting his tiny cell.
"The way [Mandela] used rugby to unite a whole nation was special, knowing I'm fortunate in what I do," Tomane said.
"The size of his cell ... [Brumbies 208 centimetre lock] Rory Arnold would literally not be able to sleep in there. It's that small, Mandela was in there for 18 years, that's unbelievable."
For the Smiths, Cape Town provides a sense of familiarity. They went to Paarl Gimnasium - the same rugby nursery that produced Springboks De Villiers and Burger. They played in the Vodacom Cup team with Western Province before moving to Brisbane with family in 2010.
Former Springboks and Brumbies coach Jake White tried to lure them back to South Africa in 2014, but they rejected a chance to join the Durban Sharks to instead become Australian citizens.
There has been speculation linking them to potential moves to the NSW Waratahs or White's new club Montpellier in France.
Former Brumbies and Wallabies winger Clyde Rathbone divided South Africa when the country's under-21s captain moved his allegiance to Australia.
Rathbone was labelled a "traitor" by Springboks players and fans were ruthless towards him.
But the Smiths are confident they will only cop friendly banter. They played with Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Louis Schreuder and Nic Groom.
"We played with all the young guys in the Stormers … I'm going up against my good mate in Frans Malherbe, we've played with and against each other since we were young," Jean-Pierre said.
"A small part of Cape Town will always be home to me. It does feel weird, but I don't think I would come and live here again. Australia has been good to me.
"There will be banter, but it will be a bit of fun."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND 13
Sunday: Cape Town Stormers v ACT Brumbies at Newlands, 1.05am. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
