The prolific South African wing arrived in Wales last night in time to make his debut for the region against Leeds Tykes in the Heineken Cup this weekend.
And Terblanche, who has scored 19 tries in 37 Tests, admits one of the biggest attractions of moving to Britain was to front-up to the world champions.
“I have always wanted to come and play club rugby in the UK at the right stage of my career but especially now after England beat South Africa and won the World Cup. I can’t wait to start playing them,” said the 28-year-old Terblanche.
“I have not simply come here to finish my career. I still have ambitions and still want to play for South Africa, but I think this is the right time to experience rugby overseas.
“Wales has always fascinated me as a rugby nation. The way in which the game is played here, with flair and passion, is exactly how I want to play so, hopefully, I will settle in quickly.”
Terblanche sounded out his move with fellow South Africans Adrian Garvey, Andy Marinos and Percy Montgomery who have also made a life for themselves in Wales.
But it was also the progressive thinking of the Ospreys’ mercurial coach Lyn Jones that convinced the World Cup player to head to the Valleys, even if he may have to recruit an interpreter for the first few weeks.
“I spoke a lot to some of the guys who had spent time in Wales, in particular Adrian Garvey, who is now back in South Africa but who loved his time in Newport,” said Terblanche.
“He told me about the place, the people and their love of rugby and I thought it would be a place I could settle. I will just have to get used to the weather.
“A lot of the guys had plenty of good things to say about the Ospreys coach Lyn Jones. We obviously spoke a lot to Lyn though I must admit I struggled to keep up with him as he speaks so quickly in such a broad Welsh accent, but I understood what he was saying.
He’s seems a real character but he was very knowledgeable about rugby and had lots of ideas.”
Despite being involved in South Africa’s disappointing World Cup bid Terblanche was also impressed by Wales’ campaign in Australia especially their performances against England and New Zealand.
“I wasn’t surprised at all by how well they did in the World Cup. Wales has always been a strong rugby nation and they proved that they are still a force by outscoring the World Champions by three tries to one,” he said.
