Willie le Roux has been an incredible servant to the Springboks, and there are few players who are more deserving of his recent 100-cap milestone after putting in more than a decade of blood, sweat and tears for the national team.
Le Roux is a warrior, and the manner in which he fought through a serious shoulder injury throughout the 2019 World Cup playoffs will forever be the stuff of legend.
Yet, the fact of the matter is that Le Roux has just turned 36-years-old. Before the start of the next World Cup, he would be 38.
Rassie Erasmus and the coaches will be fully aware that there is little to no chance that Le Roux will head to the next RWC at that age, and it’s only natural that the time is arriving to prioritise ‘project World Cup defence’.
Although the leadership and experience of Le Roux does hold great value, and was a key reason he started in this past Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks, the Springbok coaches will know that it would be counter-productive to deprive other fullbacks of game-time and exposure to high-pressure situations.
It’s why Aphelele Fassi returns to the No 15 jersey for this Saturday’s clash in Wellington, and there is no doubt that Damian Willemse is due for some more game-time at fullback as well. Both payers are just 27-years-old.
Later this year, the Springbok coaches may also like to see what talented youngster Quan Horn could offer after earning his first Test cap off the bench last year.
Well-travelled Willie le Roux has earned his ‘flowers’
The phasing out of someone like Le Roux is by no means a personal decision, and aligns with the thinking that has seen the likes of Makazole Mapimpi and Trevor Nyakane begin to fade out of the Springbok spotlight.
Someone like Le Roux has earned legendary status as the latest member of the Springbok centurion club, but the time has arrived for him to hand over the baton to the younger generation who can realistically compete for the No 15 jersey at the next World Cup.
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