Darry Worthington takes a look at what the post-2023 World Cup Springbok side will look like as the prep for Australia 2027 gets underway.
Below, I’ll take a look at what the post-2023 World Cup Springbok side may look like and how they will adapt to losing a number of their stalwarts and the majority of their coaching brain’s trust.
It feels wrong to pen this only a few days after a historical World Cup win but time waits for no man or team. The man with the scythe and the hour clock looms large over this Springbok team with many players set to hang up their boots in the coming years, or at least be past their prime by the time Australia 2027 comes around.
The median age of the Bok squad that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in France is 30. Hardly spring chickens. That said, South African rugby has a knack for producing serious young talent. As much is necessary when our URC franchises constantly lose players to the riches of France and Japan. A robust pathway from the school system into the Varsity Cup and beyond means the conveyor belt churns out quality players.
Key Takeaways Post France 2023
- The majority of this squad is over the age of 30 with 18 players out of their 20s.
- This will definitely be the final World Cup outing for Duane Vermeulen, Deon Fourie, Trevor Nyakane, Willie Le Roux, Vincent Kock, Cobus Reinach and Makozole Mapimpi.
- Siya Kolisi, with the amount of injuries he has had, is very unlikely to go for the hat-trick but stranger things have happened and this is a man who was ruled out of the World Cup at the start of the season and then came back and played an absolute blinder.
- Franco Mostert, Frans Malherbe, Faf de Klerk, Damien de Allende, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitschoff, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jean Kleyn will be 35 which is pushing it at the international level. Guys like Jonny Sexton, Alun Wyn Jones and Vermeulen are the exceptions to the rule.
The Coaches’ Box
There’s no real carrot dangling for the players or coaching staff between this World Cup and next which is why we are going to see this mass exodus primarily made of players but also a couple coaching staff.
Without a British and Irish Lions tour, there’s no real urge for veteran players or long-term coaching staff to give it another couple of years as a World Cup victory is a pretty good way to go out.
While Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus will hang around for the time being, head coach Jaques Nienaber is off to Ireland to ply his trade with URC outfit Leinster, while attack coach Felix Jones has switched allegiances to the English National team.
There is some continuity, however, with Mzwandile Stick, Deon Davids, Daan Human and Dan Edwards staying on in their coaching roles.
Rassie’s contract also expires in 2025 and he is a man in demand with England already sniffing around the two-time World Cup winner.
🏉 Is a shake-up needed for England?
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) October 30, 2023
🗣 Pioneering Rassie Erasmus is Sir Clive Woodward's first choice.#EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/IWMt9uSLM0
Adaptation
The Springboks will lose some of their most powerful players over the next four years with Vermeulen calling it a day – although he may be in and around the squad still as he is being touted as the next defence coach – Nykane also set to retire in the coming years along with Koch and Malherbe, who will all be pushing 37 come 2027.
It’s not only brute power that the Springboks will lose but also players who are just so well suited to the game plan Rassie and Jaques have implemented. Kolisi – who hasn’t confirmed his retirement but has hinted at it – Mapimpi, Mbonambi, de Klerk and le Roux are all likely to be watching the next World Cup from the comfort of an armchair.
It’s a massive rebuild for the Springboks which is going to require a rethink of playing style. While I’m not advocating for South Africa to move away from their traditional power-based game – some young players can fill the role the retiring ‘vets did with the likes of Evan Roos (provided he can sort out his discipline issues) and Salmaan Moeraat both strong ball carriers. It may be time to consider a more expansive game plan. There have actually been signs of this already with the Rugby Championship hammering of Australia at Loftus a good illustration of what the Boks can do when they give the ball a bit more air, albeit against poor opposition.
Why I would encourage a more open game plan is that the younger players in the Springbok World Cup squad would suit it down to a tee. Libbok essentially has the keys to the team having been backed for the majority of the World Cup, although Pollard (at 29) could be in and around the squad. Moodie, Willemse and Kolbe would make a very dangerous back three while a midfield pairing of Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am is a pretty well-balanced one with the latter bringing the flare and the former able to play the bailout option/battering ram role should things go arwy.
There are also a couple fantastic young nines ready to fill the gaping void that will be left by Cobus Reinach and Faf de Klerk, although the former Lions man could provide valuable experience should he manage to push on through to 2027.
Looking at the forwards now and this is where things will get difficult for the coaching staff over the coming four years. Roos and Wiese will likely be the two men in the running for the eighth berth with Dylan Richardson of the Sharks (if he does a Jean Kleyn and turns his back on Scotland) possibility as well given he can play across the back row and also at hooker a la Deon Fourie and Schalk Britz.
As things stand, Marco van Stadeen is likely to occupy one of the flanks come 2027 with several other options on the other side with all of these depending on which veterans stay the course and which retire. RG Snyman is likely to still be around at the next World Cup while Moeraat is tipped for big things. At this point in time, Nche is the only prop from the 2023 winning group that I can see getting to the next tournament.
Not Quite Bolters
There are still another four years to go until the next global showpiece and knowing how meticulous Rassie is he will have identified a number of players to bring into the set-up for the 2024 season.
The ‘Boks are also rather lucky as they don’t face a Lions tour for a while and the new global tournament that World Rugby has introduced only kicks off in 2026.
While I do think some young guns will start getting integrated into the squad this season, the big changes will come in 2025 after the Springboks have gone a year as World Champions.
Guessing Game
I’m going to take a punt here and guess the Springbok starting line-up for their first 2027 World Cup fixture. This is a pretty selfish exercise as I personally want to come back to this in four years and see how close I was.
I’m also going to chuck a couple players who I think will appear in the squad below my starting XV.
Starters
15. Damian Willemse
14. Cheslin Kolbe
13. Kurt-Lee Arendse
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Canan Moodie
10. Mannie Libbok
9. Grant Williams
8. Evan Roos
7. Marco van Staaden
6. Elrigh Louw
5. Eben Etzebeth
4. RG Snyman
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Johan Grobbelaar
1. Ox Nche
Squad Members
Hacjivah Dayiman (Loose Forward)
Handre Pollard (Fly-Half)
Henco Venter (Centre)
Edwil van der Merve (Wing)
Aphele Faasi (Fullback/Wing)
Carlu Sadie (Prop)
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Lock/Flank)
Kwagga Smith (Flank)
Bongi Mbonambi (Hooker)
Aphiwe Dyantyi (Wing)
Wandisile Simelane (Utility Back)
Faf de Klerk (Scrum-Half)
Jaden Hendrikse (Scrum-Half)
Jan-Hendrick Wessels (Prop)
Crystal Ball Gazing is for the Birds
While this is a fun article to write, I doubt that more than 60% of the players I have listed in my ‘squad’ will make the trip down under. So much happens over a four-year World Cup cycle; injuries, loss of form and gun youngsters coming up.
It’s nevertheless a fun exercise to do over a few cans of beer with a couple of mates.
