With the start of the Springboks’ 2024 season on the horizon, we take a look at three huge decisions for Rassie Erasmus to make.
A great weight of expectation will be on the Springboks when they return to action as world champions in just over two months’ time, with Rassie Erasmus now back at the helm as head coach.
In terms of just some of the highlights to look forward to, there is a two-Test series against Ireland in July, followed by what should be a blockbuster Rugby Championship, and then a challenging end-of-year tour.
RASSIE ERASMUS WILL HAVE SOME CRUCIAL DECISIONS TO MAKE AS SPRINGBOK COACH
How best to balance youth and experience
A number of new players should be exposed to Test action this year, as Erasmus has stated he will be bold in supporting youthful talent.
Earlier this year, he stated, “We have to try things. We have to build a squad, trial guys, give guys opportunity, make sure that we always improve on squad depth, transform the way we do things, trying to stay up to date.”
While maintaining a core of World Cup champions surrounding them, the Springbok coach will have a difficult time integrating players at the appropriate time, despite the fact that this is an essential part of developing squad depth.
Massive selection calls
Who should start at No 8 now that Duane Vermeulen has retired? What about at scrumhalf, considering Faf de Klerk is now 32 years old, while Cobus Reinach is 34? At outside centre, picking between Jesse Kriel or Lukhanyo Am is another real head scratcher.
These are just some of the big calls that the Springbok coaching staff will have to make, not to mention deciding how rising stars such as Cameron Hanekom, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Suleiman Hartzenberg should best be deployed.
This year it will be crucial for the Springboks to build some squad depth, especially considering several World Cup winners from 2023 will be past their prime by 2027.
Captaincy call
Regardless of whether he keeps the skipper armband, 32-year-old Siya Kolisi will surely need to have his playing time extremely carefully monitored over the course of the upcoming four-year cycle.
Even though he is stationed abroad, Erasmus will most likely support Kolisi as captain going forward, but there will need to be some shared leadership.
Although Eben Etzebeth, Handre Pollard, and even someone like Deon Fourie have captained the Springboks in the past, Bongi Mbonambi is considered the “unofficial” deputy captain.
Erasmus will need to have complete faith in his leadership deputies to keep guiding the Springboks in the correct path when Kolisi is unavailable or needs a break.
