At the moment, there is no stopping the Springboks after they’ve racked up over 100 points over the last two games, with the team’s vibrant attack looking better than ever.
A large part of this fluency and rhythm has been empowered by a bold backline selection that has seen the likes of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie and Ethan Hooker add an injection of real youthful enthusiasm to proceedings.
Backed up by a powerful forward pack, there have also been breakthrough seasons for the likes of Wilco Louw, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Wilco Louw, who have also formed part of an exciting ‘next gen’ talent pool.
Such performances will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect as we have already seen several Springbok stalwarts beginning to fall by the wayside as competition for places becomes more and more competitive.
Three Springboks certainly facing uncertain futures
In the blink of an eye, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has shown the world why he is viewed as a generational talent, with his record-setting performance this past Saturday undoubtedly proving that he is the man to take the Springboks forward at No 10.
Manie Libbok has also been quite sensational in recent times, with his much-improved goal-kicking adding to his all-round repertoire as one of the best distributors in the world game.
On current form, it does seem like Handre Pollard will have to accept that these two younger players are making such an impact that his path back to the Springbok matchday squad is now not so clear.
There are certain games, and opposition, where the strengths and experience of Pollard may be preferred, but with the current style of rugby the Springboks are looking to embrace, it does simply seem better suited to the freestyling skills of Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Ever-increasing competition
Another Springbok who has hardly put a foot wrong is Jesse Kriel, but there is also no denying that the impact of Moodie in the last two games has forced a rethink at outside centre.
After starting his Test career mostly out on the wing, Moodie has just looked so much more comfortable when closer to the game at 13, with some of his defensive reads proving to be simply out of this world.
It has added real competition in that position, and Kriel may also be wondering how easy it’s going to be for him to reclaim the No 13 jersey that he had such a firm grip on just recently.
It’s a similar scenario for Bongi Mbonambi, who has been such a prominent performer for the Springboks over the last few years, but some shaky form – as well as a personal matter – have seen him slip out of the national set up.
In his absence, Malcom Marx has banked plenty of game-time at hooker, but the emergence of Marnus van der Merwe and Jan-Hendrik Wessels has served as another example of some ‘fresh blood’ really making a positive difference to the Springboks.
Like a few other veterans, Mbonambi may well have to accept that he is set to remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
