Springboks’ next Bomb Squad expert: Eight options for Rassie Erasmus to trial in 2026 after Kwagga Smith setback
Springboks star Kwagga Smith and an inset of Rassie Erasmus.
Rassie Erasmus looks set to be without one of his most reliable performers, with Springboks star Kwagga Smith suffering a crushing setback.
According to reports in South Africa, Smith will be on the sidelines for approximately six months after sustaining a serious knee injury while playing in the Shizuoka Blue Revs’ final game of the Japan Rugby League One season against the Canon Eagles.
This would effectively rule the livewire back-rower out of the entire international season and leave Erasmus with a huge void to fill, particularly due to the former Blitzboks star’s importance as a member of the ‘Bomb Squad’. Since 2020, Smith has been hugely influential late on in Test matches for the Springboks and arguably the best impact player in international rugby with his pace, power and ability at the breakdown causing all kinds of havoc for South Africa’s opponents.
Erasmus will now be looking for the next Bomb Squad expert. We take a look at some of the top options that the head coach could trial this season.
Andre Esterhuizen
The Andre Esterhuizen hybrid trial was hugely successful in 2025 and is bound to continue again this season, with Smith’s absence creating even more opportunities for the centre to dovetail between the backs and forwards. The 32-year-old earned seven Test caps from the bench, where he performed that role, and made three starts at inside centre.
Esterhuizen has spent much of his career as a fringe Springbok due to the brilliance of Damian de Allende, in particular, but 2025 was his biggest cap haul in a single international season, which he could well better this year, particularly with Smith’s injury.
Erasmus would have planned to give Esterhuizen more opportunities this season to play in the forward pack, whether that’s off the bench or even in the starting lineup, as it will be important that he grows in the two roles looking ahead to the Rugby World Cup next year. Esterhuizen could hugely benefit from Smith’s absence and, in turn, the Springboks too, as the coaching staff is well aware of what the latter is capable of in the big matches but could learn much more about the former.
Marco van Staden
Like Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden is another versatile player for the Springboks and is now a regular feature in squads. His continued development as a back-rower who can play hooker as well gives the coaching staff a lot of options when it comes to the matchday 23 and possible squads.
The 33-year-old played eight Tests for the Springboks last year, a healthy tally, but with Smith sidelined, he could be in line for more regular action and in bigger Tests. He did play twice against Australia and the Eden Park Test against the All Blacks but could well feature more consistently throughout 2026.
Van Staden is a like-for-like replacement for Smith in many ways, with his explosiveness with ball in hand and his breakdown excellence, but doesn’t offer the versatility in the backline. Still, this could be a year that the Bulls man really comes to the fore for the men in Green and Gold.
Paul de Villiers
Another like-for-like replacement could be Paul de Villiers, who has been consistently superb for the Stormers this season, which has been recognised by the Boks’ coaching staff as he earned an invite to the alignment camps.
The 23-year-old has shone at the breakdown and filled the void of Deon Fourie in the Stormers back-row superbly and could well do the same for the Springboks, if given the opportunity. An extremely athletic loose forward and would offer a similar ball-carrying threat that Smith provides from the bench.
South Africa aren’t short on back-row options, but De Villiers would be thoroughly deserving of a Test debut in 2026 after his consistent performances in the blue and white hoops.
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Cameron Hanekom
The only reason that Cameron Hanekom has just one Test cap to his name is because of the unfortunate injuries that the Bulls man has sustained since coming off the bench against Wales in 2024.
The 24-year-old is the type of well-rounded and all-action loose forward that fits Erasmus’ bill to a tee, and fitness permitting, he will add to his single appearance for the Boks this year. While he often packs down at the back of the scrum for the Bulls, many have tipped him to become a long-term successor to Siya Kolisi in the number six jumper.
Kolisi’s minutes are bound to be managed this year, so Hanekom may well get opportunities in the starting lineup, but if Pieter-Steph du Toit is fit in time for the international season, we are likely to see the tried and tested combination of Kolisi, Du Toit and Jasper Wiese in the big Tests this year. That would open the door for Hanekom to fill Smith’s void on the bench.
Hanekom is also excellent at the breakdown, has a relentless work-rate and the ability to make a serious impact in the latter stages of matches. He has Springbok regular written all over him and just needs his body to play the part to realise that potential. Like Smith, he can also play across the back-row, which is another bonus.
Evan Roos
The top scorer in the United Rugby Championship regular season, it’s been another standout campaign for Evan Roos, who has been rewarded with an invite to the Springboks alignment camp. While Roos has been a superstar for the Stormers season after season, he has been in and out of the Springboks squad during this period.
But could he become a real weapon for Erasmus this season? Like Smith, Roos would bring pace and power to the latter stages of Test matches and could be a real gamebreaker against tiring bodies. Many will point to Roos’ ill-discipline as the main shortcoming in his game, but perhaps shorter cameos when he is fresher could mitigate this.
2026 is a real opportunity for Roos to stamp his mark with the World Cup on the horizon, but also with the plethora of talented back-rowers who are stacking their claims to become regulars after World Rugby’s showpiece event.
Sibabalwe Mahashe
One of those stars is Lions’ talent Sibabalwe Mahashe, who has been particularly impressive in the Joburgers’ surge into the knockout stages of the United Rugby Championship. A highlight of the 22-year-old’s game has been his explosiveness into contact on both sides of the ball, something that Smith is renowned for too.
Experience could count against the rookie who only made his debut for the Lions in the URC earlier this season, but the Bok coaching team has never been shy to throw a youngster into the mix and see whether they sink or swim. On the evidence so far this season, Mahashe is a real prospect going forward and is bound to earn a Test cap at some point, whether it’s this year or not.
Renzo du Plessis
A carbon copy of Smith in many ways, Renzo du Plessis is another youngster that has caught the eye of the Springboks coaching team. He was invited to alignment camps last year, and while he was overlooked for the first two this time around, don’t rule him out of contention completely.
He is also a compact back-rower but doesn’t lack physicality or power in his carries while being a pest at the breakdown. Du Plessis also has a good turn of pace and has featured regularly off the bench for the Lions this campaign.
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Francke Horn
Another Lions back-rower completes our list of possible replacements for Smith and offers a bit of a twist to the role. Unlike fellow club number eights Roos and Hanekom, Horn has shone in the wider channels for his franchise, with the Lions making the most of his excellent handling skillset and pace.
The 27-year-old could be utilised really effectively in a similar role in the Tony Brown system and even in the middle of the park with his handling. He is also a handy lineout option, something that Smith doesn’t really offer. There is no shortage of options that Erasmus could turn to, like the Tshituka brothers, who could offer different styles of play in the latter stages of Test matches, but Horn is arguably the most intriguing.
