Springboks predicted team: Rassie Erasmus to task ‘experimental’ side with sealing Rugby Championship title
Manie Libbok, Elrigh Louw and Handre Pollard all feature in our possible Springboks squad to face Los Pumas
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made mass changes to his squad ahead of their opening Test against Los Pumas in Argentina, which could lead to a more experimental line-up.
The Boks will be without key men Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, and Willie le Roux for the visit to South America as they are all rested following ‘heavy workload’.
This leaves plenty of spaces open in the squad, and that could lead to some fresh-faces being included.
Here is our best bet at a possible Springboks squad to face Los Pumas next weekend.
15 Aphelele Fassi
Slotting into the 15 jersey should be Aphelele Fassi with Willie le Roux being rested, but it’s likely he would have started anyway. Fassi has improved each time he has put on the Green and Gold jersey and looks a serious Test player already. He is such a dynamic threat with ball-in-hand, and also boasts a very creative kicking game which allows him to make chances from nothing.
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse
Arendse has overcome a knock and should come straight back into the starting XV on the wing. He has been electric so far this Rugby Championship, and has established himself as one of the Springbok’s chief attacking threats. His pace and quick-feet make him such a handful for defenders, and if conditions are dry in Argentina he could have a field day.
13 Lukhanyo Am
The silky centre has featured more at 12 this Rugby Championship, but a return to his more natural position of 13 is on the cards against Los Pumas. It’s a big call leaving Jesse Kriel out of the squad, given his form so far, but this game presents a good chance to give Kriel a different role within the group and also give Am the chance to play at 13 in this new-look attack and see how he fits into the system. Am is a quality 13 in his own right too.
12 Handre Pollard
A BIG call, but Pollard could join Am in the midfield in South America. Pollard has featured at 12 on occasion for both club and country, but it could be a clever option to move him here as that extra playmaker given Le Roux’s ommission from the squad. Pollard has also been starved of minutes this Rugby Championship, only starting one game, and this is a good chance to give him more exposure in the new attack.
11 Makazole Mapimpi
Fresh from the birth of his child, the deadly Makazole Mapimpi should come into the 11 jumper to face Los Pumas. We all know how good the Sharks ace is, and despite being below Arendse and Kolbe in the pecking order, he is such a quality player and boasts an exceptional try record for the Springboks; so could easily have a big effect on the game against Argentina.
10 Manie Libbok
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu rested, it could be Libbok’s opportunity to come into the starting team. Libbok is a silky player and suits the style of play that South Africa are looking to play now fairly well, but hasn’t been afforded a real opportunity in the starting jersey just yet with his goal-kicking the primary issue. He needs a big game though if he hopes to make a claim for the starting 10 jersey.
9 Grant Williams
The pacey scrum-half has given him a decent account of himself on the Test stage, and this could be another opportunity to stake his case to be the long-term starting nine. He loves to play with quick-ball, and also adds a genuine threat around the breakdown with his sniping ability so he could be a great option to deplopy from the off against Los Pumas.
8 Elrigh Louw
A tough call, but the Bulls man just edges out Jasper Wiese at number eight. Louw has had a decent Rugby Championship so far, and his busy style of play could be just the thing they need to best the busy Pumas back-row. He is an incredibly powerful player on both sides of the ball, and importantly his time on the flanks will make him a breakdown threat to match the work of Pablo Matera, Juan Martín González and Marcos Kremer.
7 Ben-Jason Dixon
He was hooked prior to half-time in Test One against the All Blacks, but Dixon returns to our starting line-up to face Los Pumas. Despite the blip against New Zealand, he has been solid in the Green and Gold jersey this year and added plenty of power to an already strong pack. Dixon will also been keen to prove that All Blacks game was a one-off too.
6 Marco van Staden
Only missed out last weekend following a miraculous recovery from Siya Kolisi, but he should get his chance this weekend. Van Staden is a really strong player, and should combat the abbrasive nature of Matera and Kremer on the flanks to good effect. He faces a tough challenge to get into the team over captain Kolisi, but he will be keen to prove what he can do from the off.
5 Ruan Nortje
Has really established himself in the Boks engine room this year, and should retain his spot in the starting side again. Nortje has helped settle the issues at the lineout that the Springboks had, and has just consistently worked hard for his team.
4 Salmaan Moerat (C)
Has missed a fair chunk of the Championship following a concussion, but should come into the starting side against Los Pumas. Moerat is such a key leader on the pitch, and has excelled in the captaincy role when given it, but he also brings heaps of physicality and energy around the park.
3 Thomas du Toit
Has been unfortuante to not get too much game time for the Springboks this year, but he is a fantastic player. Du Toit is a really solid scrummager, and his ability to also slot in at loosehead makes him a more aggressive scrummager too, which should get the better of Los Pumas.
2 Johan Grobbelaar
Potentially a bold call leaving Malcom Marx on the bench, but this is a great chance for Johan Grobbelaar to show what he can do in this Springboks side. He will need a big game though, especially at the lineout, if he wants to replicate the work of Bongi Mbonambi.
1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Another big call, given the form of Gerhard Steenekamp off the bench this Rugby Championship, but again this is a great chance to run Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the starting side. He is a decent player in his own right, but will need to keep the scrum as dominant as it has been if he wants to stake a claim for himself to stay in the team.
Bench:
16 Malcom Marx
The figurehead of the bomb squad right now, and will once again look to turn the game on it’s head this weekend.
17 Gerhard Steenekamp
Has been solid off the bench thus far, and should sure up the scrum when deployed against Los Pumas.
18 Vincent Koch
Will add plenty of power and experience off the bench, and will continue the solid work of Du Toit.
19 Eben Etzebeth
Performed well as part of the bomb squad in Test One against the All Blacks, and will do the same again if put on the bench.
20 Kwagga Smith
Excells in this impact role, and his ability to cover the entire back-row makes him such a dependable option in the bomb squad.
21 Jasper Wiese
So powerful in the tight, and will carve up in the final exchanges if added to the bomb squad.
22 Jaden Hendrikse
Will compliment the work of Williams well, and should carry on his good work until the end of the game.
23 Canan Moodie
His versatility makes him a great option if the Boks adopt a 6:2 split, and he also impressed last weekend after a tough spell away from the squad through injury.
