OPINION: The Springboks have the depth to deploy two different starting XVs against Scotland and England and mitigate the challenge of playing two Tests in six days.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has selected the best available players for the three-Test tour to the United Kingdom this November.
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Several veterans are recovering from serious injuries, while a couple of World Cup winners – scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and lock Jean Kleyn – have also failed to make the 34-man cut.
Nevertheless, it’s a group packed with experience and quality, and Erasmus can field two separate starting XVs across the fixtures in Edinburgh, London, and Cardiff.
Some fans may see this as a reason to celebrate the Boks’ outstanding depth and Erasmus’ dedication to development over seven years.
But a closer look at the squad – and the touring schedule – suggests that all 34 players could have a part to play across the three-game sojourn.
The first fortnight could be particularly challenging.
Following a training camp in Jersey, the Boks will travel to Edinburgh on Sunday 3 November.0
They will have seven days to prepare for the tour opener against Scotland at Murrayfield, which will be staged on Sunday 10 November.
Thereafter, they will have six days to gear up for their biggest fixture of the tour: a one-off Test against England at Twickenham.
The bulk of their preparation for that Twickenham match will be done beforehand, as they will have minimal time to train once they get to London.
And in a sense, they’ve been preparing for these big games in the Northern Hemisphere for a long time already.
Erasmus and his coaches deserve credit for how they’ve developed the squad over the years, particularly over the past five months.
Erasmus has used 49 players and as many as 11 debutants over 10 Tests.
Despite this development drive, the Boks have won eight out of 10 Tests.
If Erasmus wants to blood more new players or give some of the youngster stars more opportunities, he will have more leeway to do so when the Boks host Italy and Georgia next July.
The biggest priority this November is results – and a split-squad policy will ensure that they realise a three-from-three objective.
How many ‘first-choice’ players will Erasmus cotton-wool for the biggest game of the tour against England?
It’s a tricky question, since the likes of Franco Mostert, RG Snyman and Damian Willemse are returning after a long absence from international rugby, and could benefit from as much game time as possible.
If Erasmus fast-tracks that returning trio of Mostert, Snyman and Willemse at Murrayfield, the Boks will certainly benefit from their experience.
André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am are the second-choice midfield combination at present, but will be desperate to show why they should be the first.
Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse may not feature at Murrayfield, but will the Bok attack be that much blunter if the likes of Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie are unleashed?
And whether Willemse, Aphelele Fassi or Willie le Roux stars at fullback, the Scotland defenders will have their hands full.
It will be interesting to see who Erasmus backs in the halfbacks, and whether he rotates this combination ahead of the big clash at Twickenham.
Does he start Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok against Scotland, and save the combo of Jaden Hendrikse and Handré Pollard for England?
Grant Williams has provided great impact from the bench in recent seasons, but at some point of this tour, he will be considered for a start.
Given the attritional nature of Tests staged in the Northern Hemisphere, Erasmus may be more concerned with the rotation of his forwards.
Elrigh Louw has proved a fine alternative to Jasper Wiese at No.8, and may also play understudy to blindside flank Pieter-Steph du Toit on this tour.
Marco van Staden will be desperate for game time in a matchday squad that typically relies on Siya Kolisi and Kwagga Smith at openside.
Thomas du Toit has only played 21 Tests for the Boks since 2018, due to the fact that Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch – and until recently Trevor Nyakane – have been ahead in the tighthead pecking order.
Surely the big man needs to start against Scotland, and allow Malherbe a chance to focus on what could be an even greater scrummaging challenge against England?
Malcolm Marx is one of the world’s leading players, but could be categorised as ‘second-choice’ at the Boks given that he rarely starts.
South Africa won’t get any weaker if he is handed the No.2 jersey at Murrayfield next month.
Perhaps Jan-Hendrik Wessels – the only 2024 debutant to be selected for the tour to the UK – will get some game time at hooker in the tour opener.
Wessels has been listed as a utility player, and he may receive a chance at loosehead later on, possibly against Wales.
Once again, the exercise of drawing up potential ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams makes a greater point about South Africa’s incredible depth.
In the context of this tour, however, the depth in the squad will be the key to winning at Murrayfield and Twickenham.
It’s highly unlikely that the same combination will be backed for both matches, given they are six days apart.
@rugby365com
