Springboks players gather around coach Jacques Nienaber Photo Supplied

Springboks playes gather around coach Jacques Nienaber Photo: Supplied via SA Rugby website.

Could new-look Springboks team look like this for first 2023 Test?

The Springboks will once again enforce a split-squad system for the Rugby Championship, with a new-look side set to start against Australia.

by Craig Lewis

20-06-2023 10:43

in Springboks

Springboks playes gather around coach Jacques Nienaber Photo: Supplied via SA Rugby website.

As the Springboks did in 2019, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber will employ a split-squad strategy for the upcoming Rugby Championship, with 15 leading players set to New Zealand ahead of the crucial match against the All Blacks on Saturday, 15 July.

It means the team to face Australia in Pretoria on Saturday, 8 July will be missing some big-name players, but there is sure to be some real strength and X factor to the line-up nonetheless.

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Below, we put on our selectors hat, and try to predict what a new-look Bok side – which will undoubtedly be referred to as a ‘B’ team by some – could look like for the first Test of the year.

Possible Springboks line-up to face the Wallabies: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Thomas du Toit.

All in all, it’s still a very strong side, with a mix between Springbok regulars and a few ‘fringe’ players.

* Let us know by clicking on the comment button at the end of this article if you feel this is what the first Test team of the year could look like?

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SPRINGBOKS 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), Jean Kleyn (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).

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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), Elton Jantjies (Agen).

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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