When Rassie Erasmus named the latest Springbok squad for the upcoming end-of-year tour, players left ‘at home’ on the standby list included World Cup winners such as Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi, while Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux and Vincent Koch were omitted altogether.
It would be premature to suggest that Am, at the age of 31, won’t have an opportunity to force his way back into the Springbok squad, especially considering that he is still working his way back to fitness and form after some injury issues.
Similarly, Mbonambi may be approaching his 35th birthday, but he is likely just being afforded more of an opportunity to ‘reset’ while being given a reality check around the competition provided by Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Johan Grobbelaar.
However, it does seem that 34-year-old De Klerk has fallen down the scrumhalf pecking order, with Cobus Reinach now holding the one ‘veteran’ spot.
Mapimpi is now 35-years-old, and it’s only natural that younger wings such as Ethan Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe are being afforded more opportunities with the 2027 World Cup in mind.
Koch, who is 35, is also seemingly being phased out as the likes of Wilco Louw and Thomas du Toit continue to perform well in the absence of injured Frans Malherbe, while an opportunity has now been afforded to former Junior Springbok prop and captain Zachary Porthen.
Similarly, Le Roux is likely to have most of his Springbok playing days behind him as Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi remain at the top of the pecking order at fullback, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and even Edwill van der Merwe offering back-up options.
For the end-of-year tour, the injured players not considered for selection were Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Aphelele Fassi.
Latest Springbok Squad:
Forwards – Lood de Jager, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Zachary Porthen, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese.
Backs – Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams.
Standby:
Forwards – Juarno Augustus, Neethling Fouché, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Evan Roos, Vincent Tshituka.
Backs – Lukhanyo Am, Sebastian de Klerk, Makazole Mapimpi.
