SA Players to Watch in 2023

With motivation and desire at their peak in a World Cup year, Quintin van Jaarsveld highlights 10 uber-talented South African players to watch through a green and gold lens in 2023.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

The epitome of a blue-chipper, Feinberg-Mngomezulu in 2022 captained the Junior Springboks in their triumphant Under-20 Six Nations Summer Series campaign in Italy, scored 22 points in a Man of the Match performance in his first start for the Stormers and featured for South Africa ‘A’. It’s not a matter of if but when the prodigious flyhalf, who can also play centre and fullback, will become a Springbok. The World Cup might come a bit soon, but the Bishops product is nevertheless primed for a big 2023.

Johan Goosen (Bulls)

Is he or isn’t he Springbok quality at this stage of his career? The well-travelled veteran has been part of Springbok alignment camps and on the edge of adding to his 13 Test caps, the last of which came against Wales in 2016, despite still trying to find his best form following his latest injury. It’s made him a polarising figure, with many feeling Manie Libbok is more deserving of the third flyhalf berth in the Springbok squad. Thus, the next few months make for a compelling “Goose” chase. 

Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers)

As humble of a teenage sensation as you get, Hartzenberg’s exciting talent is matched by his single-minded dedication to the sport. Like his Junior Springbok and Stormers teammate Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the 19-year-old midfielder caught the eye at Bishops and has displayed composure beyond his years in the early stages of his senior career. Scintillating on attack, with the speed to cover wing, and strong on defence, Hartzenberg’s a perfect fit in the Stormers backline where his evolution will eventually stand the Springboks in good stead.  

Canan Moodie (Bulls)

A can’t-miss prospect, Moodie has everything a player and coach wants – size, speed, skill and a strong work ethic. Bulls boss Jake White was quick to predict his prodigious outside back will play 100 Tests for South Africa and at just 19, he became the second-youngest Springbok in the professional era and celebrated the accomplishment by scoring a magical try against Australia in Sydney last year. After missing out on the end-of-year tour through injury, he’ll be ultra-driven to reclaim his spot in the national squad.

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Evan Roos (Stormers)

Will the wildfire that was Roos in 2021-22 fizzle out or rage on in 2023? There was a reluctance from Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber to select the United Rugby Championship’s inaugural MVP and it seemed like a case of one and done after he was released from the squad following his debut against Wales in Bloemfontein. Injuries, however, saw him play in the final two Tests of the year and provide hope of further involvement in 2023. To give himself a shot, he’ll have to be at his explosive best. 

Marco van Staden (Bulls)

After being granted an early release from an injury-marred stint at Leicester, Van Staden not only made a surprise return to the Bulls but to the Springboks as well in 2022, coming off the bench in the season-ending 27-13 triumph over England at Twickenham. Can he find himself in a similar unlikely situation come the World Cup? It’s possible if “Eskom” shoots the lights out and more injuries befall the Springboks, making the experienced fetcher a player to keep an eye on.

Henco van Wyk (Lions)

The Hoërskool Monument product burst onto the scene in a big way in 2022. Equally excellent on attack and defence, the Lions midfielder made a name for himself in no time and earned the nickname “Weapon X”. The undeniable talent was rewarded with a place in the South Africa ‘A’ team and he and Hartzenberg look destined to battle it out for the Springbok No 13 jersey when the Lukhanyo Am era comes to an end. 

Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers)

As the son of the legendary Springbok Andre Venter, the 21-year-old has the pedigree to play at the highest level and has established himself as the ace in the deck of South Africa’s next-generation hookers. He has the competitive nature and work rate of his father and a temperament that can’t be taught, which saw him score a try to help the Stormers beat the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final. Already on the Springbok radar having played for South Africa ‘A’ last year, the former Grey College standout will be pushing teammate Joseph Dweba hard for the third hooker spot in the Springbok squad. 

Ruan Venter (Lions)

Even in South Africa, the home of physical rugby giants, Venter stands out as a prodigious powerhouse. A juggernaut at Paarl Boys’ High, the 1.98m, 118kg Lions loose forward has remarkably carried that dominance into the senior ranks. At 20, he’s a boy among men but you wouldn’t know it by the look of things as he’s smashed one seasoned campaigner after another, including Scotland and British & Irish Lions ace Hamish Watson. Nominated for the Junior Springbok Player of the Year award along with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hartzenberg, the Jean Deysel-like brute has a big future. 

Grant Williams (Sharks)

Williams has shot into the Springbok mix almost as fast as he splits defences with dangerous darts. His speed and eye for a gap set him apart from Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse and Cobus Reinach while his fundamentals are sound and his consistency saw him make his debut against Wales in Bloemfontein and move past Herschel Jantjies in the pecking order. The aforementioned trio are established, leaving Williams and Jantjies to battle it out for a potential back-up role.