The reality check for Bok opponents

OPINION: It is being pitched as a ‘purpose and goal-driven’ squad.

Those words were contained in the media release of the 40-man squad for the Springboks’ second in-person alignment camp” in Cape Town next week.

A second virtual alignment camp will be hosted following the conclusion of this session.

You don’t even need the ability to read between the lines to know that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is in the advanced stages of his preparation for the international season.

It starts with a double-header in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, June 20, when the Boks face the Barbarians and the SA ‘A” team take on Zimbabwe, before three home matches in the Nations Championship – against England in Johannesburg (July 4), Scotland in Pretoria (July 11), and Wales in Durban (July 18).

They will then meet Argentina in Buenos Aires (August 8) and the All Blacks in four Tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in August and September.

An away Test against the Wallabies in Australia (September 27) follows, before the second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe, with matches against Italy (November 7), France (November 13) and Ireland (November 21), ahead of the finals weekend in London (November 27 to 29).

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With no injured players invited to next week’s camp(s), it is pretty obvious Erasmus is planning to get the players up to speed for Test rugby.

This is a prime opportunity to engage in some ‘play selector’ fun.

I am considering only the players who are in the squad and currently available.

It excludes established internationals and World Cup winners like RG Snyman (out for the season with an ACL rupture, expected back in November), Pieter-Steph du Toit (shoulder surgery, race against time for international season), Frans Malherbe (dealing with back/neck issues; uncertainty about his return to play date), Lood de Jager (hip surgery, expected back in August), Aphelele Fassi (shoulder surgery, aiming for a mid-to-late June, Ethan Hooker (sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, expected back in July), Eben Etzebeth (hip injury, expected back early August) and Jean Kleyn (biceps injury, no confirmed return date).

Bongi Mbonambi seems to have fallen out of favour and is also on the Sharks’ list of injured players, while Grant Williams is listed in the squad even though he is one of the injured Sharks players.

Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse are also on the ‘absent and injured’ list.

With this in mind, I have selected two teams to play in a mythical match against each other, a ‘trial’ to select the starting XV.

There are enough players to also select two benches, and ‘hybrid’ or utility players are a dime a dozen.

The depth at the disposal of Erasmus and his fellow coaches is frightening and a reality check for the opposition.

I will call them Bok team Y and Bok team Z, as A and B will have some ‘experts’ frothing at the mouth again.

Here we go!

Bok team Y: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jessie Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Faf de Klerk.

Bok team Z: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Jasper Wiese, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Manie Libbok.

Then there is a handful of players, including internationals, who are part of the alignment camp, but will wait in the stands for their opportunity.

Putting on display the country’s incredible depth, given the extensive injury list, Paul de Villiers, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Sibabalwe Mahashe, Emmanuel Tshituka, Marnus van der Merwe, Zekhethelo Siyaya, and Jaco Williams are all hovering on the fringes.

@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com