Where are they now? Rassie Erasmus’ first-ever Springboks matchday 23

In 2018, Rassie Erasmus took over as the Springboks head coach, overseeing his first Test match after replacing Allister Coetzee.

The former Bok flanker’s first game in charge of the side was out in Washington DC when South Africa and Wales faced off.

We take a look back at Erasmus’ matchday 23 from that clash in the United States with 13 players making their Test debut in the 22-20 defeat.

The starting XV

15 Curwin Bosch

Curwin Bosch earned his Test debut against Argentina in 2017 under Coetzee and would double his tally in Erasmus‘ first game in charge. However, the loss to Wales would be the only other appearance he would make for the Springboks despite his strong form with the Sharks over the years. At the end of the 2023/24 season, he signed a deal to join French Pro D2 club Brive after making well over 100 appearances for the Sharks.

14 Travis Ismaiel

A talented winger with blistering pace, Travis Ismaiel was one of the try scorers against Wales in what proved to be his only cap for the Springboks. The speedster enjoyed a stint with the Bulls between 2012 and 2019 before signing for Premiership club Harlequins. However, his time in London came to a swift end when he was forced into retirement due to a shoulder injury. He did return to the rugby pitch representing the South African Sevens teams in 2023.

13 Jesse Kriel

Jesse Kriel was the second most capped player to feature against Wales in Erasmus’ first Test match in charge as he earned his 30th cap. Since then, he has continued to be a key player for the Springboks surpassing 70 appearances in Green and Gold that has included winning two Rugby World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series. He and Damian de Allende also broke the record for the most starts as a centre combination for the Springboks. While he was playing for the Bulls at the time of Erasmus’ first game, he left the Pretoria-based side to sign with Japanese club Canon Eagles in 2020 and still represents them now.

12 Andre Esterhuizen

Andre Esterhuizen made his Test debut against Wales in Washington and would earn a further five caps in 2018, quickly becoming a regular in the squad. However, in 2019 he narrowly missed out on the Rugby World Cup squad and left the Sharks in 2020 to sign with Harlequins. He would help Quins win the Premiership for just the second time in their history in his debut season at the club and would be recalled to the Springboks squad in 2022. Esterhuizen cemented his place back in the team from that point onwards and this time cracked the 2023 World Cup squad. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Esterhuizen signed a deal to return to the Sharks after a successful stint with Harlequins.

11 Makazole Mapimpi

Another try-scoring debutant against Wales, Makazole Mapimpi became a crucial cog in Erasmus’ squad particularly in 2019 when he became the first Springboks player to score a try in a Rugby World Cup final. He finished the tournament with an impressive six tries. Mapimpi has become a fan favourite in South Africa after the 2019 tournament in Japan and also scored a try in the crucial second Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2021, starting all three games in the series victory. He did earn a place in the squad for the 2023 World Cup but his tournament was cut short through a facial injury he sustained in the pool stage match against Tonga. He is now nearing on 50 Test caps and continues to represent the Sharks who he joined from the Cheetahs before making his Test debut.

10 Elton Jantjies

One of just six matchday 23 players who had double-digit Test caps, Elton Jantjies became a key player for the Springboks under Erasmus mostly acting as Handre Pollard’s replacement but still started several Test matches. That was until 2022 when he was sent home from the Bok camp after allegations that he was having an affair with the team’s dietician. This came shortly after he was arrested for damaging airline property earlier that year. While he was recalled to the squad when Pollard sustained an injury in 2023, he did not make an appearance or go to the World Cup and in 2024, he was slapped with a four-year doping ban after testing positive for Clenbuterol. He continues to profess his innocence but is still serving his ban.

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9 Ivan van Zyl

Yet another Springbok debutant against Wales, Ivan van Zyl would go on to earn a further five Test caps for the Springboks in 2018. However, he would not add to his tally and in 2021, he left the Bulls to sign with Saracens, who he helped win the Premiership in 2023.

8 Dan du Preez

Powerhouse number eight Dan du Preez earned his fourth Test cap against Wales in Erasmus’ first game in charge with his brother Rob coming off the bench at fly-half. The back-rower and his twin brother Jean-Luc both left the Durban-based Sharks in 2019 to join Premiership club Sale. While always pressing for a recall, at the time of writing Dan has played just six times for the Springboks – the last cap coming in 2021. He does, however, continue to be one of the best number eights in the Premiership and a key cog in the Sale pack.

7 Oupa Mohoje

Oupa Mohoje earned his 19th and final Test cap for the Springboks against Wales with injuries significantly impacting the flanker’s career. In 2023, he earned his 100th cap for the Cheetahs after returning to the side and also had a loan spell at the Griffons. Despite his horrendous injury record throughout his career, he continues to turn out for the Cheetahs.

6 Kwagga Smith

Another debutant in Washington DC, Kwagga Smith had to wait until 2019 to earn his second cap but has now become an integral part of the Springboks squad. He earned a spot in the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup where he featured in two pool stage matches. Following the tournament, he has become a more regular part of the matchday 23 and started the first Test against the British and Irish Lions, coming off the bench in the second and third Tests. By the time the 2023 World Cup came around, he was a crucial member of the ‘Bomb Squad’ and produced stellar performances off the bench and made more turnovers in 2023 than any other player. The versatile back-rower continues to be selected for the Boks and currently plies his trade with Japanese club Shizuoka Blue Revs.

5 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)

Captain on the day against Wales, Pieter-Steph du Toit would have to wait another six years to skipper his country again with Siya Kolisi becoming the regular captain in the very next Test match. However, Du Toit would return to the Springboks back-row in the second Test against England and would nail down the number seven jersey in the years that followed despite the odd cap at lock. In 2019, his heroics in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup success saw him being named the World Rugby Player of the Year. Despite some horrific injury setbacks in his career, he has played well over 70 times for his country winning a British and Irish Lions series and two World Cups. The highly regarded flanker is seen as one of the great Springboks already and arguably the best in his position in the world. Du Toit left the Stormers in 2021, signing with Japanese club Toyota Verblitz who he continues to represent.

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4 Jason Jenkins

Another debutant against Wales, Jason Jenkins has yet to add to his single Test cap since 2018. The powerful lock has enjoyed stints with the Bulls, Toyota Verblitz, Munster and Leinster. In 2022, he was recalled to the Springboks squad but did not earn a cap but may well soon after completing a move back to South Africa, joining the Sharks ahead of the 2024/25 season.

3 Wilco Louw

Earning his sixth Test cap against Wales, Wilco Louw hasn’t been able to lock down a permanent place in the Springboks squad. The powerhouse tighthead prop left the Stormers in 2019 for a brief spell at Toulon before linking up with Harlequins where he had immense success, winning the Premiership with the side. He did take his Test cap tally to 14 by the end of 2021. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, he returned to South Africa joining the Bulls in an attempt to get back into the Springboks squad.

2 Chiliboy Ralepelle

Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle earned his 24th Test cap against Wales and added another that June against England which ultimately proved to be his last appearance in the Springbok jersey. However, in January 2019, his career came to a swift end when he failed an out-of-competition doping test on 17 January 2019 as he tested positive for Zeranol and was slapped with an eight-year ban. This came after a two-year doping ban in 2015 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid drostanolone. Ralepelle now works as a Sales and Marketing Specialist for Vivre Foods in Durban.

1 Ox Nche

Ox Nche made his Test debut for the Springboks at the age of 22 against Wales and would have to wait three years for his next cap in 2021. However, from that point onwards he became a key member of the Springboks squad winning the British and Irish Lions series and the 2023 Rugby World Cup – becoming a fan favourite and one of the best looseheads in the game while doing so. At the time of his debut, Nche was playing for the Cheetahs but in 2020, he made the switch to Durban joining the Sharks.

Replacements

16 Akker van der Merwe

A livewire Test debut against Wales in Washington saw Akker van der Merwe earn two further caps off the bench for the Springboks against England in the following weeks. However, the man affectionately known as the ‘Angry Warthog’ has yet to add to that cap tally. In 2019, he also left the Sharks to join Sale Sharks and while he enjoyed a strong stint at the club, he returned to South Africa to link up with the Bulls in 2023.

17 Steven Kitshoff

The final player who had more than 10 Test caps to his name ahead of the Wales Test, Steven Kitshoff was already a regular member of the Springboks squad before Erasmus’ arrival. However, in the following years he would become renowned as one of the best loosehead props in the game, playing a crucial role as part of the side’s ‘Bomb Squad’ at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He too featured in the Lions series and starred in the 2023 World Cup, taking his cap tally over 80. Kitshoff also captained the Stormers to a maiden URC title and while he did join Ulster for a season, he has returned to Cape Town ahead of the 2024/25 season.

18 Thomas du Toit

A titan of the front-row, Thomas du Toit is renowned for his ability to play at loosehead and tighthead prop. He was a key part of the Sharks’ scrum and captained the side during his time in Durban. While Du Toit was regularly involved with the Springboks squads, he missed out on selection for the 2019 World Cup but was called in as an injury replacement after the first game. In the years that followed, he again featured throughout the World Cup cycle but missed out on the final selection. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, he signed with Bath – helping the side reach the Premiership final in his first campaign with his new club.

19 Marvin Orie

Lock Marvin Orie came off the bench to debut against Wales and would go on to add 15 further caps to his tally and win the 2023 World Cup with the Springboks after missing out on the 31-man squad in 2019. The abrasive lock also made the switch from the Lions to the Stormers and after the 2023 World Cup, he remained in France after signing with Perpignan.

20 Sikhumbuszo Notshe

After debuting against Wales, Sikhumbuzo Notshe earned five further Test caps for the Springboks in 2018 but would not add to his tally in the following years. He joined the Sharks in 2019 and was a consistent performer for the side despite his injuries. After helping the side win the Challenge Cup in the 2023/24 season, Notshe left the Sharks, signing a deal with French Pro D2 side Montauban.

21 Embrose Papier

Scrum-half Embrose Papier is another who continued to be a regular for the Springboks in 2018 but did not add to his cap tally afterwards. He featured a total of seven times for the Springboks that year but has not forced his way into the squad again despite some excellent form with the Bulls.

22 Robert du Preez

Robert du Preez crucially made an error with a clearance on his Test debut in Washington DC, gifting Wales the winning try in what to date has been his only appearance for the Springboks. Du Preez left the Sharks in 2019 to join his brothers at the Premiership club Sale Sharks where he has become a crucial player for the Manchester-based side, playing over 100 times for the side featuring at fly-half and centre.

23 Warrick Gelant

Despite playing on a handful of games for the Springboks, Warrick Gelant was selected in Erasmus’ 2019 Rugby World Cup squad where he would go on to score two tries for the side during the pool stages. The full-back left the Bulls to join the Stormers after the tournament and in 2022 made the switch to French club Racing 92. However, he lasted just one season in Paris before returning to Cape Town.

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