Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that sentimentality will have nothing to do with selection as the team plans and prepares for the squad likely to head to the 2027 World Cup.
Already we have seen the likes of Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am and Faf de Klerk cut from the latest squad at the start of the Rugby Championship, with some veterans inevitably needing to make way for the ‘next gen’ of talent.
With this in mind, there is no doubt that two players in particular need to make the most of their opportunities this season if they are to remain in the mix through to 2026 and beyond.
Cobus Reinach
Even at the age of 35, Reinach has remained in the Springbok picture to date, which is testament to the value that the national coaches clearly believe he offers. However, the fact of the matter is that Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg have made great strides in recent times, and that’s without even factoring in other experienced options such as De Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse. When considering that Reinach will be 37 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, though, this really is the season where he needs to prove that age is just a number, especially considering the meteoric rise of Junior Springboks scrumhalf Haashim Pead.
Jean-Luc du Preez
Make no mistake, this is a big season for Du Preez. At the age of 29 and with 14 Test caps to his name, this is either the point where he pushes on and establishes himself as a fixture in the Springbok team, or continues to be a yo-yo man of sorts who falls in and out of the squad. His versatility to play across the back row is of great value, and with a few No 8s currently unavailable, it’s a real opportunity for him to bank some meaningful game-time in that position. If he can prove to be consistently impactful, this could be a real breakthrough season for JLDP. If it’s not, it’s likely the axe will fall once again.
LATEST SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR THE START OF THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).
Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
Who else do you think needs to make a big impact in the Rugby Championship?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
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