04 October 2018, by: Chad Petterson

RWC CERTAINTIES: 4 PLAYERS RASSIE HAS TO TAKE TO JAPAN

We look ahead at to next year’s World Cup and the players that need to be in the Springbok set-up.

For years, the Boks have been looking for the perfect blindside flanker to steal opposition ball and disrupt play. The question is: do we have any in South Africa? We have tried Kwagga, Kriel and others but none have made a telling difference. The answer could have been under our nose the whole time. Other than being the best hooker in the world, Malcolm Marx brings another dimension to the Springbok identity. Marx’s ability to play as a fourth loosie makes him invaluable to the Bok cause. He is a must have.

If the Springboks have any chance of winning the World Cup, they need to front up on defence. Pieter-Steph du Toit has made the most tackles (61) in the Rugby Championship, including 24 against New Zealand in New Zealand. He also leads the Boks in carries (39). Some say he is starting to look like the World Cup winner Juan Smith. How can you leave him out?

Pieter Steph du Toit has made the most tackles so far in the Rugby Championship.

He has made 61 tackles (81% completion) in 4 games pic.twitter.com/HWjyyYkx4S

— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) September 27, 2018

Our biggest mistake in South African sport is comparing players like Faf de Klerk to predecessors such as Fourie du Preez. Yes, Faf doesn’t have the natural ability of Fourie; but does anyone? his best attribute is the ability to understand the game on defense and offence to influence the result of the game. For this reason, Faf de Klerk has truly made the No.9 jersey his own.

? #ANALYSIS ? What is so special about the defence of diminutive @Springboks scrumhalf @fafdeklerk❓https://t.co/XHrP4yCoTI pic.twitter.com/vQAETeqwN7 — rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 19, 2018

Has a newly capped Springbok made a more impressive impact than Aphiwe Dyantyi? He has set the Rugby Championship alight with five tries in five matches, two behind the record of most tries scored in a campaign held by the great Bryan Habana. His fearless nature plus his natural ability to thrive under pressure makes him the perfect World Cup candidate. There is no stage too big!

Is there a better way to start a Test match? ?

– high hanging kick-off
– Two massive hits
– Try in 23 seconds #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/yVCI5NgRtY

— BET.co.za (@betcoza) October 1, 2018

With the Rugby Championship nearing completion, which other Springboks will nail down a definite place in the Race to Rugby World Cup 2019?