The Springboks will open the 2023 campaign against Australia in the opening round of the truncated Rugby Championship in July, which will officially mark the beginning of matchday preparations for the 2023 World Cup.
South Africa will begin their Rugby World Cup title defense against Scotland in Marseille on September 10, followed by matches against Romania in Bordeaux, Ireland in Paris, and Tonga in Marseille (1 October).
On the weekend of 14/15 October, the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals will be played, followed by the semi-finals on 20/21 October and the final on Saturday, 28 October.
As we put out varied information on the ‘Road to the Rugby World Cup,’ we begin by examining the Springboks’ alternatives at each position, beginning with fullback.
Who will wear jersey No. 15?
There is likely a two-player competition for the coveted fullback position. Damian Willemse began the 2022 season as fullback and appeared poised to make the position his own but Handre Pollard’s injury forced him to move to flyhalf.
Willemse is a formidable option at fullback, but the Boks appear to view him primarily as a No. 10. Willie le Roux was quite influential in the most of the Tests he played last year, and he may be the ideal candidate for the high-pressure World Cup.
After he recovers from injury, it will be very intriguing to watch if the Springboks revert to utilizing the seasoned Handre Pollard as their first-choice flyhalf. If this were the case, choosing between Willemse and Le Roux as the starting fullback would be extremely difficult.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Frans Steyn will serve as alternative possibilities.
WHERE WOULD POLLARD FIT INTO SPRINGBOKS’ BEST MATCHDAY 23?
Rugby Championship: Springboks vs. Australia, Saturday, July 8, 2023 (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
15 July – Springboks vs. New Zealand (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, July 29th – Springboks versus Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, August 5th, Springboks vs. Argentina in RWC warm-up matches (venue TBC)
Saturday, August 19th, Springboks take against Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, August 25: South Africa versus New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
RWC group play: Sunday, September 10th, Boks vs. Scotland (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Boks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Boks against Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, October 1st – Boks vs. Tonga (Stade Velodrome, Marseille)
Weekend of October 14-15 – Quarterfinals
Weekend of October 21/22 – Semifinals
Final Saturday, 28 October
The Springboks will leave no stone uncovered in their pursuit of RWC victory.
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.
»Road to the Rugby World Cup: Springboks’ Fullback Options«