Road to the RWC: Springboks’ options on the right wing

South Africa will launch their Rugby World Cup title defence on Sunday, 10 September, against Scotland in Marseille, which will be followed by pool matches against Romania in Bordeaux (17 September), Ireland in Paris (23 September) and Tonga in Marseille (1 October).

When it comes to the playoffs, the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 14/15 October, with the semi-finals on 20/21 October and the final on Saturday, 28 October.

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As we begin to roll out various content on the ‘Road to the Rugby World Cup’, we take a look at the Springboks’ player options in every position, next looking at the competition for the right wing berth.

Who will wear the No 14 jersey?

Cheslin Kolbe is the unequivocal incumbent, and the good news at the start of this year is that the 29-year-old has rediscovered some top form and fitness for French club Toulon.

Last year, though, an injury to Kolbe did somewhat beneficially enable the Boks to expose the likes of Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse to Test match rugby on the right wing.

Both players certainly enhanced their reputations last season, importantly building real depth in this position. In fact, Arendse is now probably the favourite to retain his position on the left wing ahead of Makazole Mapimpi, while Moodie’s versatility could see him also book a ticket to France.

The emergence of these players will ensure the Springboks can be confident of their options out wide, while it shouldn’t be forgotten that Sbu Nkosi has just returned to the Bulls after a mental health break, and it will be interesting to see if he could make a play for consideration over the next few months.

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SPRINGBOKS’ 2023 FIXTURES:

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

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

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

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

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THIS IS OUR EARLY PREDICTION FOR THE POSSIBLE WORLD CUP SQUAD:

Forwards (19)
Deon Fourie, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (Captain), Jasper Wiese, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Marvin Orie, Trevor Nyakane, Kwagga Smith, Evan Roos, Duane Vermeulen.

Backs (14)
Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Jaden Hendrikse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Damian Willemse, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Frans Steyn.

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