Four Springboks who’ve seen RWC dream come to life in past 12 months!

This past weekend, Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber named a Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players, with the majority of these players set to be included in the 33-man World Cup squad, which will be revealed in early August.

When looking at this training squad and taking a more long-term view, it’s interesting to note how at four players have vastly improved their World Cup prospects over the past 12 months.

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Manie Libbok

The 25-year-old was once discarded from both the Sharks and Bulls, and his promising career appeared to be on a disappointing downward trajectory.

Yet, his move to the Stormers has been a game-changer, and his consistently dynamic performances over back-to-back URC campaigns have seen his Springbok stocks skyrocket over the past year.

On the 2022 end of year tour, Libbok enjoyed a memorable Test debut against France, while also featuring off the bench against Italy and England.

He backed up that Springbok salvo with another outstanding URC campaign for the Stormers, and he is now clearly viewed as the third-choice flyhalf for the national team, having usurped Elton Jantjies.

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RG Snyman

The powerful lock has endured a ‘nightmare’ period since playing a crucial role for the Springboks at the 2019 World Cup.

Yet, after a horrid run of injuries and other issues, he has finally returned to fitness and form on the way to winning the URC title with Irish club Munster.

The 28-year-old has now quickly been reintroduced into the Springbok set up, and with Eben Etzebeth still recovering from a serious injury, there is every chance that Snyman will book his place at another World Cup.

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Deon Fourie

When the 36-year-old returned to the Stormers in 2021, he openly admitted that earning Springboks selection was the furthest thing from his mind.

However, he has aged like fine wine, with the veteran flanker proving to be one of the most influential players for the Stormers over two unforgettable URC seasons.

With Siya Kolisi set to miss all of the Springboks’ games prior to the World Cup due to injury, Fourie has suddenly become an even more important member of the Bok team, and could be set to rack up some decent game time in the Rugby Championship.

Indeed, what a story it will be for the oldest-ever Springbok debutant to book his place among the France-bound squad.

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Canan Moodie

Here’s another player who made his Springbok debut just last year, with Moodie – who was then just 19 years old – scoring a sensational try on his Test debut against Australia last September.

He would go on to feature in three more Tests for South Africa in 2022, while he has consistently been one of the standout players for the Bulls over the past 12 months.

With Frans Steyn sidelined with a serious knee injury, Moodie now seems well on track to head to the World Cup as the youngest member of the squad.

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SPRINGBOKS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINING SQUAD:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92).

Hookers: Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester).

Utility Forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).

Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).

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2023 FIXTURES:

Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)

RWC warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)

RWC fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)

Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final

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