Springbok RWC squad

[Bada-Bing!]

Risky relying on one specialist hooker in the squad though.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I would be very surprised if Pollard came straight in to starting vs Ireland whether at 10 or 12. I also don't know if I would move Pollard into the 12 position under any circumstances TBH. Not just for goal kicking. For my 2c its 10 or bench.

Springbok Pollard will not face Ireland - Erasmus

South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says fly-half Handre Pollard will not be involved in Saturday's World Cup match with Ireland unless they suffer injuries.

www.bbc.co.uk

He won't. Or is Rassie playing Mind games and he'll be on the bench?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I would expect him to be on a bench as an initial thought but then you can't really do the 6 2 split thing we seem hung up on. I wouldn't know which of the two our coaches prioritize.

 

[die_mole]

So Am is back in place of mapimpi. Interesting to see how fit he is. Could be a big boost.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A one legged Am is still one of the best centres in the world, tbf
Would be a big upgrade on Kriel if he's even 75% there

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Am is great, but it is hard to see him reaching a condition where he can make an impact at this RWC. Kriel has been consistently exceeding my low expectations so I guess the issue may be if Am jumps ahead of Moodie, which he might not due to Moodie's utility.

 

[AlRums]

South Africa embroiled in compliance issue with world doping agency

The Springboks might have to compete under a neutral flag in the quarterfinals of the World Cup and without the opportunity of singing the national anthem due to non-compliance of the latest World Anti-Doping Code (WADA).

www.rugbypass.com

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Was thinking of perhaps doing this thought experiment after the RWC but its going to be a long week and my mind is on the rugby so here goes! I'm looking at the Bok setup post RWC. Do we have the coaching setup lined up? I've not heard anything but it does sound that Nienaber at least is moving on.

Player wise (age in 2027)
Forwards
OUT for all but a certainty
Deon Fourie (41)
Duane Vermeulen (41)
Nyakane (38)

Probably out but maybe another 2 years in transition or old man at 2027
Mbonambi (36)
Koch (37)
Malherbe (36)
Mostert (36)

???
Du Toit (35) I can't imagine him going another one the way he abuses his body LOL. Not at loose forward where we have a lot of players knocking on the door though I suppose Vermeulen and Fourie are both at 37 now so who knows
Kolisi (36) 36 being my cut off but depending on his form we might see Kolisi for one last hurrah?

Another one in him surely / Leadership Core
Kitshoff (35)
Marx (33)
Nche (32)
Etzebeth (35)
Snyman (32)
Van Staden (32)
Kleyn (34)
Orie (34)... though I expect the fringe players will get dropped with age while you try to hold on to the core players
Smith (34)
Van Staden (32)
JL Du Plessis (33)
Dan Du Plessis (32)
Thomas du Toit (32)
Wilco Louw (33)

Prime of career
Wiese (31)
Dweba (31)
Roos (27)
Mchunu (27)

Fringe / specualtion
Mbatha (28)
Tshituka (29)
Grobbelaar (29)
Steenekamp (30)

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Backs
OUT for all but a certainty
De Klerk (35)
Reinach (37)
De Allende (35)
Mapimpi (37)
Le Roux (38)

Probably out but maybe another 2 years in transition or old man at 2027
Kolbe (33) hat Mapimpi's age is now so he might be there even if only as back up?
Am (33) Him, Kriel and Esterhuizen are at awkward ages but I expect 1 of them to be there. With Am though the likelyhood is rather it'd be a 12 so possibly Esterhuizen or Am shifting? Most of our up and comers also at 13 (Van Wyk, Moodie, Julius)

???
Esterhuizen (33)
Kriel (33) awkward ages but doable if necessary though I do feel we have exciting youngsters in the centers specifically so not expecting them to be there in 4 years time.

Another one in him surely / Leadership Core
Arendse (31)
Williams (31)
Pollard (33)
Jantjies (31)
Gelant (32)

Prime of career
Hendrikse (27)
Libbok (30)
Willemse (29)
Moodie (24)
Fassi (29)

Fringe / specualtion
Jordan Hendrikse (26)
Julius (23)
Van Wyk (26)
Davids (28)
Feinberg-Mngomezulu (25)

 

[saulan]

Only thing confirmed is Nienaber gone. I think then Rassie is meant to be again more DoR focused. no word at all on coach.

I'm going to steal your format and shift some around (and then will wait for you to do the same thing for backs and then steal that again ) - I have added more of the fringe players from the TRC also

Player wise (age in 2027)
Forwards
OUT for all but a certainty
Deon Fourie (41)
Duane Vermeulen (41)
Nyakane (38)

Probably out but maybe another 2 years in transition or old man at 2027
Mbonambi (36)
Koch (37)
Malherbe (36)
Mostert (36)
Kolisi (36) - I think he has mentioned international retirement after this World Cup. Unclear if he will actually do it though with his buddy Etzebeth still going

???
Du Toit (35) - Also don't know. He just never runs out of energy and is playing Japan rugby which maybe helps with not going too bashed up, but his style of rugby counters that
Kitshoff (35) - I think this is on the edge. Maybe he goes for one more, but he already seems to be in journeyman mode. I guess Beast is a good yardstick and he retired at 34, so maybe he stretches this

Another one in him surely / Leadership Core
Marx (33)
Nche (32)
Etzebeth (35) - Locks generally run long and I can see him pushing even after the next World Cup (but not making it to the next one)
Snyman (32)
Van Staden (32)
Kleyn (34) - But unlikely to still be in the mix I think
Orie (34) -But unlikely to still be in the mix I think
Smith (34) -But unlikely to still be in the mix I think (replaced by up and coming high energy player. Tough to keep his type of game up at this age, but then again Fourie has)
Van Staden (32)
JL Du Plessis (33)
Dan Du Plessis (32)
Thomas du Toit (32)
Wilco Louw (33)

Prime of career
Wiese (31)
Dweba (31)
Roos (27)
Mchunu (27)
Moerat (29)
E. Louw (28)
R Nortje (29)

Fringe / specualtion
Mbatha (28)
Tshituka (29)
Grobbelaar (29)
Steenekamp (30)

Question mark around Lood De Jager and whether he will be allowed to play again

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Ja, I expect Kolisi will have runhis course and Kitshoff has the added pressure of those below him pushing hard so we'll probably not need a 80%/90%er at 1. Also agreed i think the current fringe players will not make the squad assuming young guys are going to step up to take the fringe. But overall for me I think we are in ruder health post 2023 than what I expected assuming those that will be on last legs come 2023 are indeed intending to stay on- the likes of Etzebeth and Marx for example. Would be very easy to call it a day and cash in on Top 14 money post 2023.

 

[saulan]

Backs
OUT for all but a certainty
De Klerk (35)
Reinach (37)
De Allende (35)
Mapimpi (37)
Le Roux (38)

Probably out but maybe another 2 years in transition or old man at 2027
Kolbe (33) hat Mapimpi's age is now so he might be there even if only as back up?
Am (33) Him, Kriel and Esterhuizen are at awkward ages but I expect 1 of them to be there. With Am though the likelyhood is rather it'd be a 12 so possibly Esterhuizen or Am shifting? Most of our up and comers also at 13 (Van Wyk, Moodie, Julius)

???
Esterhuizen (33)
Kriel (33) awkward ages but doable if necessary though I do feel we have exciting youngsters in the centers specifically so not expecting them to be there in 4 years time.

Another one in him surely / Leadership Core
Arendse (31)
Williams (31)
Pollard (33)
Jantjies (31)
Gelant (32)

Prime of career
Hendrikse (27)
Libbok (30)
Willemse (29)
Moodie (24)
Fassi (29)

Fringe / specualtion
Jordan Hendrikse (26)
Julius (23)
Van Wyk (26)
Davids (28)
Feinberg-Mngomezulu (25)

This one looks right. Only thing I'd add is Gelant aged 32 I think will come back into contention more now that he is playing regularly for the Stormers. He really messed things up for himself moving overseas. Likely would be in the squad now if he didn't switch over to France.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

This one looks right. Only thing I'd add is Gelant aged 32 I think will come back into contention more now that he is playing regularly for the Stormers. He really messed things up for himself moving overseas. Likely would be in the squad now if he didn't switch over to France.

My thoughts exactly but might be the Stormers bias LOL. I'd have him there ahead of Le Roux right now.

On De Jager. 34yo at lock isn't unreasonable at all but I don't see him coming back into contention sad to say but who knows.

So.. what would this hypothetical XV- or possibly more importantly a 23- look like?

Edit:
1 Nche (32)
2 Marx (33)
3 Thomas du Toit (32)
4 Etzebeth (35)
5 Snyman (32)
6 Tshituka (29) / Van Staden (32)
7 JL Du Plessis (33)
8 Wiese (31)
9 Hendrikse (27)
10 Libbok (30)
11 Arendse (31)
12 Willemse (29)
13 Moodie (24)
14 Kolbe (33)
15 Gelant (32) / Fassi (29)

16 Dweba (31) / Grobbelaar (29)
17 Wilco Louw (33)
18 Mchunu (27)
19 Dan Du Plessis (32)
20 Roos (27)
21 Williams (31)
22 Jordan Hendrikse (26)
23 Feinberg-Mngomezulu (25) / Gelant (32) / Fassi (29)
or 23 Julius (23) / Van Wyk (26) assuming Willemse can go back and we prefer a center on the bench.

A few big calls:
- Willemse at 12 where IMO he is best. This also assumes De Allende/Am/Esterhuizen/Kriel aren't 100% anymore.
- Pollard out and Jordan Hendrikse takes the step up.
- Think the Du Preez twins might come back to SA with the gaps opening up for a Bok berth. They are class and could easily have been there now. Even Rob.
- Etzebeth still going strong at 35 captaining the side as the most capped Bok and alltime GOAT 4

 

[saulan]

My thoughts exactly but might be the Stormers bias LOL. I'd have him there ahead of Le Roux right now.

Potentially. But he just didn't get much game time at all in France, so hard to really put him in the Springboks if he can't get into the starting line up of his team. But he works super well in the Stormers set up.