Which Springbok ‘newcomers’ could soon make Test debut?

The Springbok squad will assemble in the Mother City in the first week of March to get the wheels in motion for the 2024 Test rugby season, with a 43-player group selected for the two-day alignment camp on 5 and 6 March.

The group will consist of 39 domestic (locally-based) players and four Japan-based players, who are currently injured and doing their rehabilitation in South Africa. As many as 19 players formed part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup-winning team.

Only 27 players are capped Springboks, and as many as 16 of them are uncapped, but the fact of the matter is that many will fall by the wayside once the national coaches cut the squad back for the actual Test squads.

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In July, the Springboks will play two Tests against in-form Ireland and then feature in a one-off match against Portugal before an intense Rugby Championship campaign begins.

Realistically, it’s the game against Portugal when some ‘newcomers’ – who impress at the alignment camp and on the domestic scene – might receive their first Springbok cap.

Looking at the list below, impressive Lions midfielder Henco van Wyk looks to have all the attributes of a high-quality outside centre who the Springboks should look to expose in some of their ‘smaller’ games this year.

Bulls loose forward Cameron Hanekom also looks to be a Springbok in waiting, while the same could be said for generational talent Suleiman Hartzenberg from the Stormers.

Powerhouse Stormers prop Neethling Fouche should also be set for a Test debut considering that the Springbok do need to start building some further depth at prop.

It would also not be a surprise at all to see Stormers utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu crack the nod for the Test against Portugal.

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SPRINGBOK NEWCOMERS IN THE ALIGNMENT CAMP

UNCAPPED PLAYERS INVITED:

Name	Age	Position	Team
Ruan Venter	22	Flank	Lions
Jan-Hendrik Wessels	22	Hooker	Bulls
Mpilo Gumede	23	Flank	Bulls
Henco van Wyk	22	Centre	Lions
Sanele Nohamba	25	Scrumhalf/flyhalf	Lions
Jordan Hendrikse	22	Flyhalf	Lions
Morne van den Berg	26	Scrumhalf	Lions
Cameron Hanekom	21	Loose forward	Bulls
Quan Hỏn	22	Fullback	Lions
Johan Grabbelaar	26	Hooker	Bulls
Suleiman Hartzenberg	20	Centre	Stormers
Neethling Fouche	31	Prop	Stormers
Andre-Hugo Venter	22	Hooker	Stormers
Marnus van der Merwe	27	Hooker	Cheetahs
Ruben van Heerden	26	Lock	Stormers
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu	21	Flyhalf/centre	Stormers

The full 43-player alignment camp squad

Forwards: Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche*, Johan Grobbelaar*, Celimpilo Gumede*, Cameron Hanekom*, Andre-Hugo Venter*, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marnus van der Merwe*, Ruben van Heerden*, Marco van Staden, Ruan Venter*, Jan-Hendrik Wessels*

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Faf de Klerk, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu*, Suleiman Hartzenberg*, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse*, Quan Horn*, Herschel Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Sanele Nohamba*, Morne van den Berg*, Henco van Wyk*, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse

* Denotes uncapped players