How the Springboks could lineup against Ireland as ‘generational talent’ gets his shot

The highly anticipated series between the Springboks and Ireland in South Africa is fast approaching, and following on from Rassie Erasmus’ squad announcement, we take a stab at predicting his matchday 23.

Three players who featured in the Rugby World Cup final victory over New Zealand last year have been ruled out of the series, meaning there will be some changes to the squad.

Further injuries means that the Boks will be testing some of their depth against the side ranked second on the world rankings. However, it is expected that Erasmus will back an experienced team against Ireland, featuring many of the stars that lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup last year in France.

Predicted Springboks team to face Ireland:

15 Willie Le Roux

Aphelele Fassi made the most of his opportunity against Wales, but with Damian Willemse ruled out, it’s hard to see anyone but the experienced full-back starting against Ireland.

The 34-year-old is not as quick as he once was, but there are few, if any, in the Springboks set up with the rugby IQ, game management and acumen of the classy full-back who is nearing 100 Test caps.

If fit, there is also an opportunity for Cheslin Kolbe to slip into the role but his defensive brilliance is rather wasted at full-back, albeit still a handy option to have there.

14 Kurt-Lee Arendse

There were concerns about whether Arendse would be fit for the series against Ireland, but his involvement in the URC final suggests that he will be ready to go.

The Bulls superstar was one of the most in-form backs in world rugby before injury struck and will be eager to hit those highs against Ireland. Edwill van der Merwe shone on debut against Wales, but Arendse has performed time and time again for the Springboks and is a rather straightforward selection.

13 Jesse Kriel

Lukhanyo Am’s return to fitness means that Kriel has fierce competition for the starting role once again but the former has been sidelined for sometime now and could be welcomed back into the starting XV for the Test match against Portugal. A nice headache to have for Erasmus and new attacking guru Tony Brown.

12 Damian de Allende

Andre Esterhuizen produced a strong shift on his return to the Springboks’ starting XV and there really isn’t much splitting him and De Allende.

We predict that De Allende will start the opener against Ireland with Esterhuizen missing out but returning for further starts later in the year as the tussle for the 12 jumper heats up.

De Allende was hugely destructive against Ireland last time out and while Esterhuizen does bring that brutality and perhaps a softer touch too, the former still has a stronghold on the jersey for the time being.

11 Cheslin Kolbe

Another rather straightforward selection call if fit. There is still some doubt about whether Kolbe will be up and running for the series but if he is, it’s a no-brainer.

If he is not yet ready, Van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi are fantastic fillers, while there are further options with Fassi and potentially Am or Kriel shifting to the wing—an embarrassment of riches.

10 Handre Pollard

Manie Libbok started the Rugby World Cup match against Ireland, but Andy Farrell’s charges look set to front up against a Springbok side with Pollard steering the ship from the number 10 jumper.

Pollard was entrusted with the starting role in the final against the All Blacks and when fully-fit, he is usually the first choice in the position.

Libbok struggled in the back end of the Stormers’ season and is now facing stiff competition in the pecking order, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu impressing against Wales. Still, he is still right in the mix and could be well-suited for Brown’s attacking patterns.

We expect Pollard to start, but don’t we won’t be surprised if Libbok does.

9 Faf de Klerk

A quadriceps injury is threatening De Klerk’s involvement but the multi-talented number nine is the likely first choice. Erasmus has spoken glowingly about Cobus Reinach’s form with a torrid Montpellier team this season and Grant Williams has been excellent so again, no shortage of options.

But as mentioned above, we are predicting an experienced team and there is no more experienced half-back combination in Bok history than De Klerk and Pollard.

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8 Evan Roos

Jasper Wiese’s suspension and Duane Vermeulen’s retirement meant there was always going to be a big call needing to be made at number eight.

Kwagga Smith will surely be in the running, and Phepsi Buthelezi a bolter, but Roos looks to have the inside track. He had a solid shift against Wales and has been on the fringe for some time now and for the first Test, we’d expect him to get the nod with Smith being the insurance on the bench.

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7 Pieter-Steph du Toit

There’s not much to say here, really, and while Erasmus has options in the role, none are as world-class, experienced or frankly nearly as brilliant as Du Toit, who is arguably the best player in his position in the game.

6 Siya Kolisi (c)

Has to be right? Kolisi is the emotional heartbeat of the Springboks squad and while Erasmus has raised doubts about his captaincy heading into this year, he will surely retain the role for the first two Tests at least.

While Racing 92’s president criticised his performances in France, Kolisi has always raised his game in Green and Gold.

Smith and Bulls’ star Marco van Staden will be in the mix for the starting number six jumper too, so will Buthelezi.

5 Franco Mostert

There is no shortage of locking options, but Mostert is another player who has a stronghold on the starting jersey. He has formed an excellent partnership with Etzebeth, which is bound to be retained, and he will be entrusted with running the Springbok lineout.

4 Eben Etzebeth

One of the best players in the world and is closing in on the Springboks’ all-time caps tally. He has been in sublime form this season and is yet another easy call for Erasmus to make.

3 Frans Malherbe

Malherbe made way for Vincent Koch to start against Wales, with the latter notching up his 50th cap against Warren Gatland’s team. However, the veteran tighthead is set to take up the starting role against Ireland and go toe-to-toe with Andrew Porter in the scrums.

Arguably the best tighthead scrummaging prop in the game and is another clear-cut selection.

2 Malcolm Marx

Marx featured against Wales in his first match since the Rugby World Cup, and while he got through his allotted minutes without much fuss, the Bok coaches will still be wary of pushing him too hard.

Selecting him in the starting lineup means that the coaches can manage his minutes better with a world-class hooker on the bench backing him up.

1 Ox Nche

With Steven Kitshoff ruled out through injury, Nche is the clear first choice for the loosehead prop role, whether in the starting XV or on the bench. He is arguably the Boks’ best scrummaging loosehead and is likely to be entrusted with fronting up against Tadhg Furlong.

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Replacements

16 Bongi Mbonambi

Johan Grobbelaar is bound to get an opportunity at some point this year but it is unlikely to be in the Tests against Ireland. Mbonambi will be in the 23, whether he is in a starting role or off the bench, providing an incredible double punch with Marx.

17 Trevor Nyakane

While the one loosehead prop role is an easy call, the other is certainly up for grabs. Nyakane is the most experienced of the candidates and his ability to play both sides of the scrum means he is in with a shot in two positions. Meanwhile, Thomas du Toit and Gerhard Steenekamp have been in sterling form this year.

Du Toit has hopped between the two propping positions with little fuss too but has featured more regularly at loosehead in Green and Gold and while Steenekamp has played just once for the Boks before now, he is held in high regard and shone throughout the URC.

Erasmus and scrum guru Daan Human are spoilt for choice here, with the selections bound to come down to a combination pick, i.e. whoever better compliments the hooker and another prop.

18 Vincent Koch

Koch put in a tidy shift against Wales and is another prop who has been in excellent form. His combination with Mbonambi does his hopes of featuring against Ireland well, but he will be challenged by Du Toit and Nyakane.

19 Salmaan Moerat

We expect Erasmus to return to the 6-2 split against Ireland with two locks on the bench, the first being a replacement for Etzebeth at tighthead lock in Moerat. Ben-Jason Dixon’s versatility could see him usurp his Stormers team-mate.

20 RG Snyman

Whether the Boks opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split, Snyman is bound to crack the team. He was excellent off the bench for the Boks last year but could easily start as well.

21 Kwagga Smith

Another who will be in the matchday 23 in some shape or form and more likely off the bench. Smith was a real weapon for the Springboks in the latter stages of matches last year and will be pressing for a starting role in the back-row. Marco van Staden has also impressed and could provide a tantalising double poaching threat off the bench.

22 Grant Williams

A shootout between Williams and Cobus Reinach for the replacement scrum-half role and a tough one to call even before throwing the Lions star Morne van den Berg into the mix.

23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

5-3 or 6-2 split, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is likely to feature in matchday 23 after an impressive debut against Wales. If it is the former, he could provide backline cover with the likes of Lukhanyo Am, Manie Libbok, Andre Esterhuizen, and others. If not, he could be covering 10, 12, and 15 in the 6-2.

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