Five World Cup bolters Rassie should consider

OPINION: The 2027 World Cup in Australia is 14 months and a bit of change away, but Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus could look at the following players as bolters as South Africa chase a three-peat of titles.

Things in this sport can change in the blink of an eye. Back in 2018, Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl looked set to be in Erasmus’ plans for the 2019 World Cup.

*Also read: Double impact: Bok brothers leave their mark against Wales

Then came along Herschel Jantjies (who returned to Test rugby this past weekend against Wales) and played himself into the Boks’ 2019 World Cup squad following an outstanding season in a struggling Stormers team.

Following a friendly against the Barbarians and a successful Nations Championship campaign, Erasmus might look at the following players when he selects his squad for the 2027 RWC in Australia.

Paul de Villiers

Many pundits compared the Stormers No.6 to former Cheetahs and Bok flanker Heinrich Brüssow, with his incredible work rate, poaching ability and speed across the park.

De Villiers racked up several player-of-the-match awards during the Stormers’ United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup campaigns and earned that accolade this past weekend for the first time at Test level against Wales.

Regular captain Siya Kolisi will remain Erasmus’ first choice No.6, but De Villiers could be the perfect replacement off the bench when things tend to get loose with his ability to steal and slow down opposition ball.

He is born for Test rugby and will get better with each match he plays at this level.

Riley Norton

I know there might be some eyebrows raised, but hear me out.

Despite not having played a single URC game, Erasmus selected him for the Boks in a non-Test international against the Barbarians, and he didn’t look out of place at all, and marked his international debut with a try to boot.

The current age profile of Springbok locks is concerning, and with guys like RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn and Eben Etzebeth injury-prone the past couple of seasons, Norton doesn’t just bring balance to the lock stocks’ age profile but offers versatility as well, being able to slot in at loose forward like Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Norton was in line to make his Bok debut off the bench against England in Round One of the Nations Championship before a hamstring injury in training ruled him out.

Make no mistake, he will go on to wear the green and gold jersey for several seasons to come and is the perfect fit for the Boks’ 2027 RWC squad.

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Jaco Williams

Speed, youth and maturity. The 20-year-old Williams made his Test debut against Wales this past weekend and played like a seasoned veteran.

Some areas around his game require polishing, such as his high-ball contesting, but that can be sorted out through Mzwandile Stick, who is brilliant at coaching off-the-ball work.

Williams’ versatility is a big bonus. He can play wing and fullback, and whilst Kolbe and Arendse remain the first-choice wings for South Africa, the battle is on between Edwill van der Merwe and the Somerset East native for that third outside back spot.

Carlu Sadie

With Frans Malherbe’s playing career hanging in the balance, Carlu Sadie is the perfect like-for-like backup for Wilco Louw.

The Boks have an abundance of tighthead props in Louw, Zachary Porthen and Neethling Fouché, but Sadie seems to peak at the right time, having been a journeyman to become the cornerstone of Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Begles scrum.

He is no slouch around the park either and gets stuck in the tight-loose despite his mammoth size.

As Ox Nche famously coined the phrase “salads don’t win scrums”, Sadie’s beef frame and power is straight out of the Bok playbook.

Ruben van Heerden

We touched on the Bok locks’ age profile and amount of injuries in that position the past couple of seasons.

Van Heerden, who also made his first Test appearance this past weekend, brings grit, size and physical dominance.

The second rower made 17 tackles against Wales and won five line-outs. At 28 years old, he is in his prime as a lock forward and is the perfect replacement for Jean Kleyn, who seldom featured for the Boks since the 2023 World Cup Final.