Schalk Burger offers theory for why the likes of Bakkies Botha and Eben Etzebeth are commonplace in South Africa

Former Springboks forward Schalk Burger has suggested that it is simply in their genes to produce gargantuan second-rows.

South Africa have a plethora of locks at their disposal, led by Eben Etzebeth, who will go down as one of the greats, while in a previous era Bakkies Botha was an imposing enforcer.

However, it is not just Etzebeth that performs at a world-class standard with Franco Mostert, RG Snyman and Lood de Jager all proven performers.

Depth like that is often generational but not with the Boks, who continue to churn out powerful and athletic second-rows.

Locks coming through

Ruan Nortje and Salmaan Moerat, who are both 26, appear to be the next cabs off the rank, while there are several players under 25 who could come into contention eventually.

Equally, they also have tall and strong flankers, such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruan Venter and Elrigh Louw, who can cover lock if required.

Burger, at 6ft 4in, is almost short in comparison and the ex-back-row has provided a possible reason as to why they have so many quality back five forwards.

“I think it’s the natural build of South Africa,” he said on the Boks Office podcast. “You walk around the streets and you see a lot of locks, a lot of loose forwards, especially in the Afrikaans community.”

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Some of the aforementioned names are currently injured, with Mostert and De Jager among those to be on the sidelines, but they still have the depth of quality to switch around their 23 according to who they face.

Versatility

“If you think of the versatility of those guys, Pieter-Steph started off as a lock, but the fact that he has such an engine, he can cover both,” former Boks captain Jean de Villiers said.

“The make-up of our team with where we’re going with the 6-2 and even the 7-1 split, having that versatility puts you in a position to be able to do that.

“You have a Pieter-Steph, you have a Franco Mostert, you have even a BJ Dixon now to cover that. Ruan Venter the same thing.

“Ruan Nortje apparently next year might be playing on the side of the scrum for the Bulls a little bit as well. Again, he’s got the workload that can do that.”

It’s not just the modern Springboks who are benefiting, however, with previous South African teams, including the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cup winners, having absolute powerhouses in the back five.

“We’ve always had them. You think of ‘95, number eight in the World Cup final was Mark Andrews. Our era, Danie Rossouw was the ultimate super sub for us, whether it was flanker or number eight, like he did in ‘07,” Burger added.

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