adminThe news that the Springboks have secured the services of their Japanese-based players for the final test of the calendar year will be a massive boost to their hopes of ending the European tour on a high.
The Boks conclude their international calendar on 26 November against England at Twickenham, a fixture that was imposing as it falls outside World Rugby’s calendar window and would mean that any overseas-based players would need permission from their clubs to be part of the test squad for that game.
Traditionally, club teams have baulked at the prospect of this and it doesn’t seem too much different this time around for those players based in Europe.
But for most of the year there was a concern that an undercooked and inexperienced Springbok side would have to turn up at Twickenham for the fixture, prompting in part the Boks’ decision to play a second-string outfit against Wales in Bloemfontein and the two fixtures set for midweek games against Munster and Bristol Bears in November.
But while those moves will all be good for Springbok rugby in the long term, and will facilitate the development of some of the younger stars for the next World Cup, the news that the Japanese contingent are available is massive for the England game.
That means the likes of Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux and Franco Mostert will be able to stay with the Bok team for that last game and will give them a much stronger look about them.
The players who will miss that game will be Handre Pollard (if fit), Vincent Koch, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, Cheslin Kolbe, Trevor Nyakane, Rynhard Elstadt, Warrick Gelant and Andre Esterhuizen.
While the Boks haven’t released details on the number of players they are likely to take on tour, it will be over 50, just given that the minimum squad would have to be a match-day 23, plus an extra prop, hooker and scrumhalf to fill the specialist roles.
The Boks have already used more than 50 players this season, and depending on injuries, are likely to stick to the majority of the squad that did well for them in both the Welsh series and Rugby Championship.
There may be one or two spots open on the South African XV that will play the midweek games, but the debate will be whether to blood a young player who is destined for the 2027 World Cup, or rather take in-form current URC players.– SuperSport.
Online Reporter