With a year before the next World Cup in France, we wonder whether the Springboks are prepared to defend their title after destroying England exactly three years ago to win the championship for the third time.
After Siya Kolisi has led his team against three of the teams widely predicted to win in Paris next year—Ireland, France, and England—we will undoubtedly know more in a month. However, knowing SA director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, the Boks will likely reserve some of their ammunition for the matches that truly matter.
The Springbok heavy guns, however, have every reason to think they can propel them to World Cup triumph once again given the ammo they have at their disposal. Nearly all of the Bok players who served their country in 2019 will return in 2023.
Only Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw, and RG Snyman are not now active with the Boks; the first two have retired, and the latter is injured, though there is still a chance he might make a return. This 23-man team defeated England 32-12 in the final.
On Saturday against Ireland, six of the pack’s starters from that championship game will line up, with Duane Vermeulen taking a break and Steven Kitshoff taking Mtawarira’s place.
The All Blacks game in Nelspruit, the third Test against Wales in Cape Town, and the thrashing of the Wallabies in Sydney are just a few games that come to mind when thinking about the Boks’ heavy artillery this year. The forwards were also in excellent shape for the Boks in their last two Tests against Argentina.
However, if the Boks have the forwards, the issue is whether their assault has advanced enough to be as effective in 2023 as it was in 2019.
Three years ago, the Bok forwards and their backup “Bomb Squad” were adequate to complete the task, but there is a strong suspicion that the Boks need to pass the ball to their dangerous back three more frequently because their opponents are so much more knowledgeable and ready for the aerial bombardment and forward onslaught.
To be fair to Erasmus and coach Jacques Nienaber, they lost 18 months to the Covid-19 pandemic — the Boks were shut down much more severely than their international rivals — and the first game they played after the November 2, 2019 final was on July 2, 2021, against Georgia.
They were forced to return to their usual selves against the British & Irish Lions because they were thrown into the deep end.
The Boks’ recent tour is their final chance to add some new arrows to their quiver; the pre-World Cup matches in 2018 will be about fine-tuning. Erasmus appears to have recognized the potential of an attacking fullback in bringing out the best in wings like Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Canan Moodie.
Damian Willemse’s current position as the starting flyhalf may have been more by chance than plan, but if he excels on this trip, he will undoubtedly have the position next year, which will result in the Boks playing with greater flair.
The Bok backs may be able to put the frosting to the cake that the forwards will undoubtedly bake if you factor in the fire starter Lukhanyo Am’s comeback from a long-term injury.