SPOTLIGHT: Much has been made of several Springbok players who are heading into their golden Test years come 2027, but their value shouldn’t be discarded due to their age.
As the old saying goes: “Age is nothing but a number”. However, it does have some merit in the sporting world, especially a contact sport such as rugby.
There is, of course, an exception to the rule.
A player like Deon Fourie made his Springbok debut at age 35 and went on to play 77 minutes in a World Cup Final.
The likes of Bobby Skinskad and Schalk Brits didn’t play in the big matches in the 2007 and 2019 World Cups respectively – but they made a massive contribution with their knowledge and experience to the younger players in the group.
Looking further than the Boks, the golden era of New Zealand had players such as Jerome Kaino, Daniel Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and captain Richie McCaw all in their starting XV and they were over the age of 30.
Their bench had further 30-plus-year-olds in Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks and Sonny Bill Williams.
The All Black side that fell short in the 2019 semifinal against England could just as well have faced the Springboks in the Final a week later.
Former head coach Steve Hansen’s selection in hindsight might have been questionable, having opted for rookies in certain positions over cool, calm and experienced heads.
The experienced Ben Smith was out of the matchday squad and replaced by rookie Sevu Reece.
Scott Barrett’s move to flank in such a crucial clash totally backfired and Beauden Barrett, who made the No.10 jersey his own since the 2015 Final, was shifted to fullback to accommodate an exciting, yet inexperienced Richie Mo’unga at the time.
The young centre pairing of Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue couldn’t stand up in the big moments against the experienced Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi – while the likes of Ryan Crotty missed out on selection and Sonny Bill Williams found himself on the replacements bench.
Currently, there are a host of Boks who are running their final race before hanging up the boots such as Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Cobus Reinach, Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, Pieter Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi to name a few.
Still, these are players who are still performing at elite levels week in and out and never disappoint when they pull a Bok jersey over their heads.
Not all these names will make it to 2027, be it through injury, loss of form or calling it a day on their own terms.
Still, those who are good enough to contest for the RWC three-peat in 2027 should be there in any capacity possible, be it as a squad mentor or a player in the big matches.
The resurgence of Aphelele Fassi isn’t just coincidence, as Willie le Roux has been helping him at his game as he did with Damian Willemse, who went from being a squad member in 2019 to a starter in the 2023 World Cup Final.
Duane Vermeulen provides the same role for the forwards and it’s this sort of continuity in personnel along with the new faces we have seen getting an opportunity in 2024 that could be the perfect blend to win a third successive World Cup in 2027.
