There is still some time before the Springboks get their 2025 Test season underway against Italy in July, but we’ve gone ahead and selected what we believe would be Rassie Erasmus’ full-strength matchday squad if a World Cup Final needed to be played tomorrow.
While the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ form has been up and down this season, their all-Bok front row deserves to start given the amount of time they’ve spent together as a combo. With Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw in ridiculous form for the Bulls right now, they get their spots in the Bomb Squad alongside Kubota Spears hooker Malcolm Marx.
Although he has hardly played this year, Eben Etzebeth still walks into the side to partner Franco Mostert in the second row, while Leinster dynamo RG Snyman occupies a position on the bench with Pieter-Steph du Toit also able to cover lock.
As much as it’s been awesome to see Siya Kolisi unleashed at eighthman at the Sharks this season, the recuperating Jasper Wiese is the starter, with Kolisi and du Toit on the flanks. Veteran Kwagga Smith and the outrageously talented Cameron Hanekom will provide Bomb Squad impact.
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Grant Williams has arguably been the best SA No 9 this season, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues to blaze his own trail as a flyhalf phenomenon. They will have the calm-headed and structurally-oriented Handre Pollard and Morne van den Berg able to deputise off the wood in this 6-2 split.
The World Cup-winning midfield combo of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel also crack the nod alongside fellow World Cup Final back three starters Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse.
Our Squad:
- Ox Nche
- Bongi Mbonambi
- Vincent Koch
- Eben Etzebeth
- Franco Mostert
- Siya Kolisi
- Pieter-Steph du Toit
- Jasper Wiese
- Grant Williams
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
- Cheslin Kolbe
- Damian de Allende
- Jesse Kriel
- Kurt-Lee Arendse
- Damian Willemse
Subs
- Malcolm Marx
- Gerhard Steenekamp
- Wilco Louw
- RG Snyman
- Cameron Hanekom
- Kwagga Smith
- Morne van den Berg
- Handre Pollard
