VIDEO: France to be Grobbelaar's litmus test

PARIS, FRANCE: Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar is set for the toughest Test of his career in the green and gold when South Africa takes on France in Paris on Saturday evening.

The four-test-cap Grobbelaar earned a recall to the squad after being overlooked for the July internationals as well as the Rugby Championship.

The Springbok selectors preferred Marnus van der Merwe instead, but have now given the Bulls forward another shot.

He now has a chance to step into that second-choice hooker spot behind Malcolm Marx.

With Jan-Hendrik Wessels’ involvement still up in the air following his suspension, this is a massive opportunity for Grobbelaar to prove that he is a reliable option.

Moving Mbonambi aside may mean the Springboks are busy developing hookers that possess the versatility and skillset to thrive in the modern game.

This isn’t simply the end of an era; it’s a catalyst for change. The future of the hooker is dynamic, multifaceted, and inextricably linked to the ongoing evolution of the game itself.

The teams that embrace this change and invest in developing versatile players will ultimately succeed. The question is whether Grobbelaar can be this version of a hooker in the modern game?

He got his first taste at test level in July 2024 against Portugal in Bloemfontein, and followed this up with three more Tests: against Australia in Perth (August 2024), Wales in Cardiff (November 2024), and Japan at Wembley last weekend.

The enormity of running out in Paris against France is not lost on Grobbelaar.

“It will be a massive opportunity for me. I haven’t had a lot of caps yet, so it will probably be one of my biggest games,” he told reporters on Monday.

“And it is my first time here in Paris, and being here with this squad and players with this quality helps.

“It’s going to be a massive battle and I am looking forward to it,” the hooker stated, thereby signalling his potential inclusion in the line-up for Saturday.

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When South Africa beat France in the quarterfinal of the World Cup in 2023, Grobbelaar was at home, watching.

“I was back home in South Africa watching with friends. Obviously, it was a massive game to watch, very passionate from both teams.

“I was very proud of the boys, and it is special to be with them,” he said, adding that the Springboks are expecting a huge physical onslaught from the French.

“We are expecting big and strong guys with a lot of skills, including the guys that are coming off the bench with new energy.

“It’s two nations with big pride in set-piece and playing a physical game.

“So we will be out there trying to overpower them at set-piece and breakdown.”

Getting his first Test of the season against Japan last weekend was another box ticked in his dream to become a strong contender in the Bok squad.

“It was great to get out there on the pitch again. I’ve been out for a few months, but I joined the squad again.

“I was glad to get the opportunity [against Japan] and glad to have the first one in a while in the pocket. I am just looking forward to the rest of the season.”