Excuse me for stating the obvious, but if you want to see the Springboks get a shot of fresh blood in the coming weeks as we race toward the World Cup, you’d better leave such ideas at the next stop.
Coach Jacques Nienaber, supported by director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, has made it very plain that he won’t be bringing in many or any new players for the end-of-year trip unless they play for SA A. You may “Forget about it” when it comes to the Boks in this regard, much like Donnie Brasco.
Manie Libbok, Evan Roos, Sacha Mngomezulu, Henco van Wyk, Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, and a host of other young athletes could have a chance to play for Munster and Bristol Bears in the SA A squad, but they will almost probably not get full colors this year or in 2023.
Nienaber and company are executing a strategy that doesn’t appear to leave much room for error or allows for much opportunity to bring in inexperienced players from outside the system.
It’s not always a terrible thing.
Undoubtedly, the Bok administration has sometimes shown some willingness to import players like Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse when necessary and desperate. Damian Willemse is a result of such an event, despite having an exceptional skill.
If Handre Pollard’s injury and Elton Jantjies’ struggles weren’t happening, he may not be enjoying his present position of prominence in the Bok lineup.
Instead of being typical behavior, his punishment is exceptional. We can all agree that the No. 10s for the next season will be Handre Pollard, Elton Jantjies, Johan Goosen, and then Willemse, in that order, provided that all of the players are healthy and on-point.
No matter what new talent emerges, every other job will follow the same established pattern. That is the standard.
On Tuesday, Erasmus made it plain that the Bok establishment is aiming for a group that will defend the World Cup in France next year to have an average age of 29 and about 45+ Test caps. This approach does not allow for further testing or the distribution of additional caps.
The attitude was the same when I spoke to former Bok captain John Smit a few weeks ago. Smit then nodded in agreement with the Bok think-current tank’s selection strategy, claiming that it is now too late to sign fresh players in a system that is already stocked with seasoned, championship-winning veterans and defend the Webb Ellis Trophy.
I find that I tend to agree the more I think about it.
I must admit that I am one of the many South African rugby fans that naturally wants to watch their youthful idols compete at the greatest level. Even if they have the potential to do great things, Nienaber is right to stick with his current route for the time being.
We should all accept that Siya Kolisi and his seasoned warriors will protect our honor the next year, rather than the young crop of players that are emerging, who will have to wait until until 2023.
If you want to see anything new from this Bok camp, focus more on the SA A team, which will be revealed on Friday. The intriguing future will be that one.
Fair enough, there is nothing improper about it.