Rugby

7 Players Who SHOULD Get A Shot with the Springboks

Who deserves to pull on the green and gold this season?

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2024

As we creep closer and closer to the Test season, the question of whether Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and his staff will select some new players for the upcoming matches against Wales, Ireland, and Portugal (and the subsequent Rugby Championship) is an interesting one.

While the Boks still have some incredible stocks in their current playing roster, some new blood will be needed, with the match against Portugal a particularly good opportunity to test new additions; so we’ve rounded up 7 players who deserve a shot with the Boks in 2024:

Rob du Preez

We want to throw Rob du Preez’s name into the flyhalf hat. The buzz around Siya Masuku is warranted, as the Sharks 10 has produced some great moments this URC season, but if there’s a playmaker who has been leading a team consistently for many years, it’s Sale Sharks’ Rob du Preez. The 30-year-old has a sublime distribution game, a powerful and accurate passing technique, is a strong defender, and has the ability to play at outside centre too, often shifting there to accommodate George Ford at Sale, and doing so excellently. Du Preez is long-overdue to add to his one Springbok cap from back in 2018.

Tyrone Green

It’s the name on everyone’s lips at the moment. The former Lions and now Harlequins fullback has been consistently named as one of the Premiership’s best players, winning the Premiership in 2021 and going on to play some big key matches in Champions Cup encounters. Green has shown that he has sufficient skill under the high-ball, a keen eye for a gap, and the ability to finish too. His eagerness to counter-attack may not fit into the usual Bok gameplan, but his speed and evasiveness would pair well with the current Springboks wingers to string together some great long-range tries.

Wandisile Simelane

One of the most exciting backline prospects is that of Wandisile Simelane. The Junior Springbok star became a hot commodity for the Lions, breaking onto the Super Rugby scene in 2019 and showcasing himself as a lethal attacking threat. He then made the switch north and joined the Bulls where he continued to show some impressive skills, with a recent move to the Stormers set to allow him to play his attacking style. Simelane has been waiting in the wings behind the likes of Lukhano Am and Jesse Kriel for quite some time, and 2024 is the year he should make his Test debut.

Jaco Visagie

Jaco Visagie may be a bit of a journeyman with time spent in Gloucester, Toulouse, the Bulls, and the Lions, but the 31-year-old is playing some of his best rugby to date. He has become a strong force in the Joburg side’s defensive structure, proving to be a clinical and effective tackler and fetcher, and is a pivotal cog in the Lions’ scrum. With the Springbok camp clearly open to having more experienced players joining the ranks (just look at Deon Fourie), Visagie still has the opportunity to pull on the green and gold in 2024 and could provide great hooker coverage for the likes of Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi.

Edwill van der Merwe

The former Stormers and now Lions speedster has become one of the most clinical finishers in recent seasons, racking up a notable try-scoring record in the URC competition. Van der Merwe is fast, good in the air, skilful, and a potent defender, often pulling off try-saving chase-downs and tackles to thwart the opposition. The Boks do have great wing stocks with Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Makazole Mapimpi, but a true out-and-out finisher with some tremendous skill would fit in excellently with the already talent-packed Springbok backline. We’d love to see Van der Merwe in the Springbok line-up this year, and have a sneaky suspicion that we will.

Sanele Nohamba

The former Sharks scrumhalf has found a new lease of life at the Lions, shifting to the flyhalf position and showcasing that he not only has the ability to manage a game, but also create some moments of magic. Despite his smaller size, Nohamba is a solid defender, has an eye for a gap, and can goal-kick effectively under immense pressure, with some game-winning moments under his belt this season already. If the Springboks are looking for versatility in the scrumhalf/flyhalf playmaking area, Nohamba is the answer.

Hacjhiva Dayimani

There’s no doubt that if it wasn’t for the immense loose-forward talent the Springboks have had for the past year or so, Dayimani would’ve already been playing for the Boks. The Stormers No. 8 has had several game-breaking moments in games and has developed his physicality immensely, showing himself to be a true ball-playing eighth man. While he has more than enough capability to start, Dayimani could make a fantastic impact player and join the revised Bomb Squad for the 2024 Test season.