Bok playmakers under microscope ahead of European tour 

SPOTLIGHT: The question surrounding which halfback combination the world champion Springboks will field command the most attention ahead of their three-Test European tour.

The Springboks will conclude their 2024 season with three Tests in Europe of which the first will be a tricky fixture against their 2023 World Cup opening match opponent – Scotland on November 10 in Edinburgh.

The creative Manie Libbok and ever reliable goal-kicker Handré Pollard ensure for great internal competition for the playmaker role while Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams will battle it out for the No.9 jersey.

Breakthrough flyhalf Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who’s arguably the Springboks’ find of the season misses out on selection as he recovers from a knee operation.

Pollard, who has ice in his veins when the heat is on, has been entrusted with the No.10 jumper in four of the Springboks’ 10 Tests this year – with a goal kicking success rate of just under 80 percent.

The rise of Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu saw Libbok only starting twice.

While his handling, running and playmaking ability has been hailed as some of the best in the game, his erratic goal-kicking success rate of a mere 58 percent seemingly has not helped his cause for more game time in the green and gold.

Double World Cup winning scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was available for this European tour after a lengthy absence due to a thigh injury, but didn’t make the cut as his last Test came against Ireland back in July.

The Springboks’ last clean sweep on an end-of-year tour came back in 2013 where they only lost two Tests in that calendar year (against New Zealand) and will aim to do it again in 2024 – with only two losses thus far against Ireland (home) and Argentina (away).

If Rassie Erasmus opts to kick-off the tour with his strongest side against Scotland, with fixtures against England and Wales following – most of the other 13 (positional) selections appear clearcut.

With Damian Willemse ruled out with a groin injury he picked up while on duty with the Stormers, Aphelele Fassi should be entrusted with the No.15 jumper after a sensational return to form this year after two seasons in the Test wilderness.

Outside backs Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse and centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende has been the preferred starters throughout a season in which the Springboks won eight out of 10 Tests.

Erasmus has the luxury of three hookers to choose from with the dynamic duo of Bongi Mbonambi and Malcom Marx the hot favorites to make the matchday squad.

Loosehead Ox Nche and tighthead Vincent Koch are most likely to be the preferred starters, with fellow tighthead prop Frans Malherbe on the sideline with injury.

The competition is tight when it comes to who will be joining the 128-capped Eben Etzebeth at lock.

Leinster lock RG Snyman is used to European conditions and this may give him the edge over Franco Mostert and Ruan Nortje.

The evergreen Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi are the preferred loose forwards.

With veteran Duane Vermeulen’s retirement following a fairytale finish against the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup Final – the door opened for Jasper Wiese to earn the No.8 jersey.

There is of course the impressive Cameron Hanekom who is comfortable in all three loose forward positions who can challenge Wiese for the starting berth.

Hanekom alongside flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse, tighthead prop Wilco Louw and hooker Johan Grobbelaar were late additions to the squad following the injuries to Damian Willemse, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Frans Malherbe.

The squad includes 26 of the 35 World Cup winners from last year and 10 of the starting lineup against the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup Final.

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“There is a healthy mix of youth and experience with most of the players having made strong statements in the Springbok jersey this season,” says Erasmus.

Having played key coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 World Cup victories- Erasmus faces fresh challenges ahead of the next global showpiece which will take place in Australia in 2027.

Many of the victorious squads members will edge to the 40-year-old rather than the 30-year-old mark by the next World Cup, and Erasmus admits age is a factor as he plots the future.

“We cannot look too far ahead and forget the present. But we also cannot get stuck in the present. There are guys in the squad who were not there before the last World Cup,” he said.

Erasmus says his aim before 2027 is to develop a squad in which ‘ideally there are three excellent players competing for every position.’