Springboks Jacques Nienaber Rugby World Cup

The Springboks in a huddle. Photo: SA Rugby website

Springboks: Players Jacques Nienaber can’t ignore ahead of RWC

Some players have changed the equation for the Springboks and Jacques Nienaber just months out from the Rugby World Cup.

Springboks Jacques Nienaber Rugby World Cup

The Springboks in a huddle. Photo: SA Rugby website

Some players have changed the equation for the Springboks and Jacques Nienaber just months out from the Rugby World Cup.

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Deon Fourie, Grant Williams and Manie Libbok have smashed the Bok selection door open ahead of the Rugby Championship and the RWC in France later this year.

All three men earned their Bok debuts at the end of last season. However, they have taken it up a notch. Now, all three players will have Nienaber, Rassie Erasmus and the Bok selecting panel scratching their heads.

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BOK PLAYERS JACQUES NIENABER SIMPLY CAN’T IGNORE AHEAD OF RWC

Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber hugging skipper Siya Kolisi
Coach Jacques Nienaber and captain Siya Kolisi embrace after the Boks’ last match. Photo: SA Rugby website

DEON FOURIE (OLDEST BOK DEBUTANT)

Deon Fourie has been arguably the best openside flanker in the United Rugby Championship.

He has been one of the most influential figures for John Dobson and the Stormers on their way to their second home URC final. To make matters even more interesting, regular captain Siya Kolisi is in a race against time to make the RWC in France. Therefore, Fourie is set to battle Kwagga Smith for the starting berth.

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Kwagga may seem like the obvious option but that has changed after this season. Fourie has been a monster at the break down, a powerful ball career and his work rate is second to none in the URC. He has all the makings of a great Bok flanker and there is no doubt that Nienaber will be tempted to give him more minutes this season.

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GRANT WILLIAMS

Williams has changed the Bok equation completely. Less than a year out from the RWC, Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse and Cobus Reinach seemed to be assured of their places in Nienaber’s RWC squad. However, Williams has broken down that door with the same level of vigor as he has with each scintillating line break.

The Sharks scrummy was named in the URC team of the season. Rightfully so, he has scored 10 tries, made 11 clean breaks and made 559m in the URC – these would make for fine stats for a winger and he is a scrumhalf. Such stats will be be causing Nienaber sleepless nights. As it is, he has outperformed Hendrikse at the Sharks. So, will he replace in the RWC squad?

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MANIE LIBBOK

Springboks utility back Manie Libbok during a team training session in Italy.
Springboks utility back Manie Libbok during a team training session in Italy. Image: SA Rugby/Clement Mahoudeau/Gallo Images.

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Libbok has been the talk of the town this season.

He is the URC’s top points-scorer for the second season in a row having scored 208 points before the URC final this weekend. Furthermore, he has 16 clean breaks and five tries in this seasons URC. He is in the form of his life. Now, he is unlikely to replace Pollard. However, Damian Willemse is unlikely to be the back-up flyhalf given Libboks form.

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Since earning their Bok debuts all three men have substantially elevated their game.

Therefore, Bok selection just got a whole lot harder. As if selecting a Bok side wasn’t hard enough given the magnitude of talent at our disposal. We are in for an interesting Rugby Championship and RWC build-up, indeed.

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