The Springbok squad picked by Rassie Erasmus to compete at the impending Rugby World Cup in Japan is one that boasts a solid blend of youth and experience.
Photo Copyright Steve Haag Sport Hollywoodbets
Erasmus and his coaching staff opted for a 17-14 split between forwards and backs, with Rynardt Elstadt the only player from the final squad of 32 that trained in Bloemfontein last week to have missed out on final selection.
As expected, Siya Kolisi was named skipper and the 28-year-old will have a wealth of old campaigners around him to lean on in trying times.
The likes of Beast Mtawarira (110 caps), Eben Etzebeth (78), Francois Louw (68) and Duane Vermeulen (48) will all make up the nucleus of the leadership group, while 2007 champion Frans Steyn (60) will certainly look to impart his many years of experience at the top on the youngsters in the side.
Winning this year’s Rugby Championship will act as a major confidence booster for Kolisi and his team, who have recorded one win, one loss and a draw in their last three Tests against the double-world champion All Blacks.
The significance of these results against the Kiwis cannot be understated, with the old foes set to clash in their opening game at the global showpiece in Yokohama on 21 September. The winner of that showdown is likely to go on to win Pool B and earn safer passage through to the playoffs, something both sides will be yearning for.
There weren’t any shock inclusions or omissions from the Bok squad, with the announcement of Warrick Gelant perhaps the most unanticipated. Still though, despite a few haphazard displays in the green and gold this year, he is deserving of his place.
Arguably the unluckiest players to miss out on selection, all through injury, were Marcell Coetzee, Warren Whiteley, Aphiwe Dyantyi, and Damian Willemse. The latter three in particular were expected to make the grade this time last year, but fate has dealt them a cruel blow and they will have to be content with watching the Boks from the comfort of their own sofas.
18-months ago nobody gave them the Boks a chance. But after an exponential improvement under Erasmus and armed with world class performers like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Handre Pollard, the Boks will back themselves to go big in Japan.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
