Springbok Watch: Players In The Spotlight v New Zealand

Quintin van Jaarsveld identifies five Springbok players who’ll be in the spotlight in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town.

Grant Williams

Williams’ impressive cameo off the bench last weekend, which included him scoring the match-winning try, added to the opinion that he’s a sensational super-sub. Is that all he is at international level, though?

He’s only started three of his 14 Tests, all against lesser opposition last season. He made his only appearance in the green and gold No. 9 jersey against Argentina at Ellis Park and showed his versatility by starting on the wing in the World Cup pool games against Romania and Tonga.

Attack-minded and quicker than a hiccup, his strengths are tailored to an impact role, but in saying that, he has the overall skillset to succeed as a starting Bok scrumhalf and this is his opportunity to prove that. At 28, he needs to deliver to put questions about his starting ability in big games to bed.

Handre Pollard

Bok supporters are currently spoiled with the unprecedented depth of the national side. They all have their favourites they want to see, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the name on everyone’s lips at the moment.

The prodigy has been an absolute revelation in his maiden Test season and delivered the goods as the starting flyhalf in all three Rugby Championship games, injecting an added edge on attack while showing maturity well beyond his years.  

Thus, many were disappointed on Thursday morning when it was announced that the 22-year-old would start on the bench at Cape Town Stadium. Given all the rage over the new kid on the block, Pollard’s performance will be scrutinised by fans.

Rassie Erasmus knows what he has in his decorated general, who started both Tests against Ireland in July, and feels this is a chance for him to get more substantial game time under his belt before the Argentinians Tests, where mass changes are expected.

Canan Moodie

With Kurt-Lee Arendse unavailable due to concussion, many felt veteran Makazole Mapimpi would be the man to replace him, especially after he ran in no less than four tries in the Sharks’ 75-19 Currie Cup win over the Griffons last weekend.

However, the double World Cup winner spent the week in KwaZulu-Natal for the birth of his child, opening the door for Moodie to make his first Bok appearance since last year’s World Cup pool game against Tonga.

The 21-year-old, who’d been out with a fractured finger, recently told Netwerk24 he’d worked on various aspects of his game, saying, “You have to make the best of the situation, and I worked on my speed during that time. I also spent time with my family in Paarl.

“I’ve been working hard on my ability to beat players in a one-on-one situation, so now I have more confidence to take on opponents and go for the gaps. I also improved my skills under hanging kicks and paid attention to my defence. Moreover, I communicate more on the field these days.”

After a good comeback for the Bulls in the Currie Cup, he’ll now look to reintroduce himself at Test level.

Willie le Roux

With his time in the Bok jersey winding down, Bok fans should enjoy every opportunity they get to see Le Roux in action.

Aphelele Fassi came through in a big way last weekend and he’ll take his pen and paper out to take notes as he watches the veteran virtuoso do his thing this weekend.

Le Roux’s organisational skills are what sets him apart from younger fullbacks like Fassi, Damian Willemse and Quan Horn, while he’s still a fantastic facilitator and knows just how to use his educated left boot.

Set to win his 97th Test cap, the 35-year-old will be keen to help marshall the Boks to another victory.  

Jaden Hendrikse

Like Moodie, Hendrikse is set to return 11 months after his last Test appearance.

Having recovered from shoulder surgery and shown solid form for the Sharks in the Currie Cup, the 24-year-old will look to make up for lost time when he comes on off the bench.

That doesn’t mean he’ll dart and snipe around the fridges, as that’s not his game. Yes, he can be opportunistic and dangerous, and his vision does see him create scoring opportunities, but he’s a tactician at heart and his main objective will be to close out the game with his boot.

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.