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ONES TO WATCH: 5 Springboks to watch during the Autumn Internationals

The Springboks will end what has been a highly successful year with end-of-year Tests against Scotland, England and Wales in November. Check out Shaun Goosen’s picks for the five players to keep a special eye on.
Aphelele Fassi evades Damian McKenzie
Image: EPA/Kim Lubbrrok

The Springboks will end what has been a highly successful year with end-of-year Tests against Scotland, England and Wales in November. Check out Shaun Goosen’s picks for the five players to keep a special eye on.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Pieter-Steph du Toit

Du Toit may seem like a humdrum pick for a list like this, but strong performances this November could well be what he needs in his push for another World Player of the Year title. The exceptional blindsider has been in otherworldly form this season and will be a strong contender for the prize regardless of his displays in Europe. Still, another Man of the Match showing or two couldn’t hurt.

Cheslin Kolbe

Like du Toit, Kolbe’s inclusion here is based more on the fact that the 31-year-old will be a strong contender for the title of world’s best player over the coming months. In much the same way that Poland’s Robert Lewandowksi was denied a Ballon d’Or in Covid-affected 2020, many felt the former Stormers man should have picked up rugby’s equivalent that same year, only for World Rugby, like FIFA, to scrap the naming of the prize. Well, Kolbe should have another chance soon.

Grant Williams

Williams has been in fine form this year, with his display in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ recent defeat of Munster in Durban being arguably the scrumhalf’s best to date. With Faf de Klerk still out injured and Father Time surely coming soon for Cobus Reinach, there’s every chance we will see the livewire starting at No 9 in at least one of the Boks’ three games on tour. If he can translate his franchise form to the international stage, he could even be an outside bet to lock down the starting berth going forward.

Thomas du Toit

Although Hollywoodbets Sharks and Bath supporters are all too familiar with du Toit’s consistent excellence at club level, there are many who feel he is yet to replicate that impact in the Green and Gold of the Boks. Having established himself as a regular starter at the Rec, his knowledge of European conditions will be vital for the double World Champions at the set piece this month, while he may feel he owes the side a big performance against England after his unlucky dismissal at Twickenham on the 2022 tour.

Aphelele Fassi

There is no question 2024 has been the year the Weekend Special has finally come of age in the Test arena. And while his performances have undeniably been superb so far this season, he will face even tougher challenges in northern conditions where the 26-year-old is likely to be a target, particularly under the high ball. These next games will be another litmus test for Fassi, especially in the continued absence of Damian Willemse.

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