19 August 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

SPRINGBOK WORLD CUP SQUAD – BACKS

In the wake of Saturday’s ‘Farewell’ Test at Loftus Versfeld, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has some difficult decisions to make in terms of finalising the 31-man squad for next month’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

After months of calculated selection shuffling and meticulous planning, Erasmus is set to reveal his hand on Monday, 26 August. Selecting a squad to carry the hopes of a nation at the quadrennial global showpiece is arguably the most challenging – and certainly the most unenviable – task of a head coach.

So many factors play into settling on a 31-man World Cup group – leadership, a strong spine, combinations, striking the perfect balance between experience and youth and weighing up reputations versus form to name a few. In South Africa’s unique case, Erasmus also has to hit transformation targets. In this regard, he has been given the thumbs up by SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander.

Erasmus in March said 80% of the squad had been selected, a statement he repeated in the build-up to Saturday’s Test against Argentina. This was highlighted during the triumphant Rugby Championship campaign, in which the Bok mentor fielded ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams against the All Blacks and Wallabies and a combination of the two against Los Pumas.

It’s the final piece of the puzzle, which could prove crucial – especially if ill-fated injuries occur – and it’s where selection posers remain. The Test at Loftus subsequently served as a final opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim for a seat on the plane to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Following the 24-18 win, Erasmus revealed that a 37-man squad (not announced at the time of writing) would head to Bloemfontein for a training camp, and that the final 31 would be selected from that group. He went on to suggest that “timing will make it tough” for injured duo Aphiwe Dyantyi and Warren Whiteley, as well as Damian Willemse – who made his return from injury as a super-sub for Western Province in Friday’s Currie Cup clash against Griquas – to make the cut.

Based on Erasmus’ selections over the past year, along with the continued concern over injured aces and the emergence of exciting rising stars, we reveal the 31-man squad – which has a traditional 17/14 forwards/backs split – that we believe will jet off to Japan in pursuit of a third World Cup crown.

In part two (Read part one here) of our Bok World Cup squad focus, we look at the backs.

When it comes to the back division, the whole is greater than the sum of its part. Does Erasmus bank on specialist cover at scrumhalf, flyhalf and fullback, or does he opt for utility players to do the job if required? Each case is unique.

Faf de Klerk is the clear first-choice No.9, while the meteoric rise of Herschel Jantjies has seen the Stormers livewire establish himself as De Klerk’s deputy. Erasmus’ selection poser here is whether to include a third specialist scrumhalf or, like England coach Eddie Jones, opt for just two and have a player like Cheslin Kolbe take on the added responsibility in case of an injury to either De Klerk or Jantjies.

At flyhalf, Erasmus made his bed early on with two specialists in veteran playmakers Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies. Damian Willemse was groomed as the third flyhalf option (and a back-up fullback) before injury derailed that plan. He made a big impact off the bench in Province’s 27-23 loss in Kimberley, but it appears to have come too late.

Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am and Jesse Kriel are clear-cut choices at centre. Frans Steyn has played the bulk of his rugby at Montpellier in the midfield and this where he’ll be primarily used in Japan. Pollard and Jantjies can both slot in at centre if needed as well, so a specialist like Andre Esterhuizen looks set to miss out.

With several utility players vying for the outside back berths, Erasmus has much food for thought. Again, how much weight will a specialist like Warrick Gelant carry when the likes of Kolbe, Steyn and Dillyn Leyds can serve as fullback cover for Willie le Roux, and which of the wings will lose out? Here’s who we anticipate will be the chosen ones.

A tenacious character best known for his scintillating sniping ability, crisp clearing and brave defence. He’s always a threat around the fringes and sticks to his opposite number like glue, which often sees him stifle sides at the source and/or secure turnovers. As good as he is driving an up-tempo offence, he’s tactically sound as well. Kicking from the base has become his primary job for the Boks and it’s a part of his game that’s improved tenfold at Sale.

South African rugby’s 2019 breakout star, Jantjies has gone from relative obscurity to Bok hero since his match-winning cameo off the bench for the Stormers against the Lions. He cemented his place in the Bok squad with a dream debut against the Wallabies and magical match-saving try against the All Blacks. He has natural attacking ability, maturity well beyond his years and experience and punches above his weight on defence.

Kolbe produced a promising emergency cameo while De Klerk was in the sin bin in Salta, but it would be a big and unnecessary risk for Erasmus to go to Japan with just two specialist scrumhalves. Reinach has taken his career to new heights at Northampton and despite his sub-par showing at the weekend, he’s a world-class scrumhalf and important piece of the Bok puzzle.

The total package at 10, much of the Boks’ hopes will rest on Pollard’s shoulders. He marshalls the team with tactical proficiency and is equally prolific when playing flat and attacking the line. An unrivalled points’ machine in this year’s Super Rugby and Rugby Championship competitions, he’s unquestionably South Africa’s most valuable player.

When he’s at his best, Jantjies is a play-making wizard capable of slicing through the slimmest of gaps, creating openings with deft distribution and punishing teams with pinpoint crosskicks to unmarked wings. An accurate goal-kicker as well, it’s clear that Erasmus values his experience, which played a key role in getting the Boks over the line at Loftus.

A bruising battering ram who consistently crashes over the gainline, De Allende added brains to his brawn during the Stormers’ Super Rugby campaign. The big midfielder mixed things up well and regained much of the form that saw him burst onto the Test arena in 2014. Went back into his shell offensively during the Rugby Championship, but was massive on defence.

A smart and skilful player whose subtle touches and impeccable timing translates into points on the board. It’s his ability to manipulate defenders and space that makes the Sharks star a unique threat in the Bok backline, play-making prowess that often goes unnoticed by casual fans but is instrumental in unlocking defensive systems. He’s excellent at the breakdown as well.

A World Cup winner in 2007, any coach would love to have such a vastly experienced and multi-talented star in their ranks. The decorated Steyn has more tools than a Swiss Army knife, which means he can slot in at centre, flyhalf, fullback and wing. It’s this versatility, and his famous cannon boot that enables him to slot penalties from 60m out, that makes him an invaluable squad member and preferred third option at flyhalf.

Set to remain in Japan to further his career at the Canon Eagles, Kriel is known for his explosive power and speed. He regularly beats defenders thanks to his sprinter-like acceleration off the mark, while his upper body strength has seen him make many a turnover, either through holding up the ball carrier or pouncing at the breakdown.

Other than fellow diminutive dynamo Herschel Jantjies, no-one made a bigger statement in the Rugby Championship than the tiny Toulouse tornado. His attacking flair is topped only by his heart, traits that shone brightly during the southern hemisphere showpiece. His starring role in the draw with the All Blacks cemented him as a true Test player after years of doubts due to his size.

Big, strong and athletic. He’s an athlete in the every sense of the word, whose natural gifts enable him to go past or through defenders. A phenomenal finisher, he seized the day at Loftus, with Erasmus confirming after the win that the Sharks star had cemented his place in the squad thanks to his two-try, Man of the Match magic. Strong defence is also a hallmark of his game.

With first-choice flyer Dyantyi seemingly set to lose his race against time to recover from the hamstring injury that’s kept him out of action the past couple of months, Mapimpi is next in line and although he didn’t have the best Rugby Championship, the Sharks speedster was the form South African wing in Super Rugby 2019.

The Wasps star lacked his trademark sting and wasn’t his mercurial self in the Rugby Championship, but as the cliché goes, form is temporary, class is permanent. He didn’t have a bad campaign – he was still good under the high ball and on defence – but one’s come to expect magic from him on attack. We expect him to regain his mojo in Japan.

With so many utility players on the bubble – Leyds being a prime example – Gelant’s place in the squad might be up for discussion. However, like in Reinach’s case, it’s safer to select a specialist. Gelant has never let the Boks down and is as complete a No.15 as they come.

Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Elton Jantjies, Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel, Frans Steyn, Cheslin Kolbe, Sbu Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi, Willie le Roux, Warrick Gelant.

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Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.