Which rookie will impress Rassie Erasmus and earn the opportunity to play against Six Nations defending champions Ireland in a two-match Test series in July?
The Bok alignment camp is under way and there is plenty of talk regarding which, if any, of the 16 uncapped players will do enough – possibly against Wales at Twickenham in the season-opener – to be trusted with playing time against Ireland.
The Boks won their fourth World Cup in France last year, while Ireland bowed out in the quarter-finals, but the reigning world champions’ only loss of the tournament came against the Irish, and they’ll be looking to settle scores in July.
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The Ireland Test series is the Boks’ first post-tournament challenge and cracking the nod will be easier said than done, even more so for uncapped players.
Lions scrumhalf turned flyhalf, Sanele Nohamba, has been shifting gears while showcasing his versatility in the URC and Challenge Cup, and although a Bok debut looms, coach Rassie Erasmus has alluded to starting him against Wales as opposed to Ireland.
With the Boks still in the midst of a hooker crisis, the Vodacom Bulls’ Johan Grobbelaar has put up his hand as the perfect candidate to ease their woes in the middle of the front row after impressive performances in the URC and Champions Cup.
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The Boks have another versatile option in the Stormers’ Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who is at home at inside centre and flyhalf, and his array of skills makes him a tantalising option for Erasmus.
Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom burst onto the scene in the 2023–24 season, and the hard-carrying foward has put his name in the hat as a possible replacement for the retired Duane Vermeulen.
The Lions’ 21-year-old flanker, Ruan Venter, who doubles as a lock option, is a powerful runner, rock solid on defence, and shows great promise in making the transition to international rugby.
With Vincent Koch still sidelined as he recovers from injury and Trevor Nyakane no longer a spring chicken, the door is wide open for Stormers tighthead Neethling Fouche to slot into the Bok front row.
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
