Springboks’ best matchday 23: Where would Pollard fit in?

As part of our ongoing end-of-year content, we cast an eye towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and select what we think would be the best possible Springboks lineup if everyone was fit.

In 2022, the Springboks had to cope for large periods without superstars such as Handre Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Lukhanyo Am, Cheslin Kolbe and even Frans Steyn.

It has presented opportunities for other players to make their mark, with the likes of Jasper Wiese, Damian Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse really making the most of their chances.

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The 2023 World Cup is now fast approaching, and there are sure to be some selection headaches when it comes to selecting the wider 33-man squad, let alone when it comes to narrowing it down to a matchday 23.

South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has already spoken of how he feels the Springboks have significantly improved their depth in 2022.

“Having this kind of depth is super exciting and the all the players have been given road maps they have to work on,” he commented in a recent interview. “In the end, the 33 guys (picked for the World Cup) will be selected on the technical and fundamental strength of the progress they’ve made in terms of their road maps.”

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So, if everyone is fit, this is what we believe will be the best Springboks’ 23:

Springboks run-on XV – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.

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What this does show is how difficult it would be to fine-tune the squad into a final 23. Notably, in our selection, there just wouldn’t be space for Duane Vermeulen, who loses out to Wiese based on the latter’s highly-impressive form this year, while Kwagga Smith can’t be denied a place on the bench.

Several months ago, many pundits would have felt Pollard would be the first name written down in any starting lineup, but until he gets a run of consistent rugby under his belt, it seems completely unjustified for him to displace Willemse at this current moment.

The 2022 form of ‘Pocket Rocket’ Arendse is also too good to ignore, and so along with Pollard, Makazole Mapimpi may have to make do with a place among the ‘bomb squad’.

There are also tricky selections at scrumhalf, and in the front row, where we have opted to pick Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff in the starting lineup, while shifting Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche to the bench. 

In this team of ours, there is also one massive bolter as we’ve gone for RG Snyman, who would be a sensational addition to the ‘bomb squad’ if he was fully fit.

Of course, this is a completely hypothetical selection, and plenty could change between now and next September, but it certainly does make for an interesting exercise.

*Let us know in the comments section who you would pick in your preferred Springboks’ matchday 23 if everyone was fit!

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