Three forwards fighting for Springbok recognition
· The South African
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will almost certainly be about 90% certain of what his Test squad will look like for the July internationals, but there is always a chance that some ‘bolters’ could come into the mix.
With this in mind, we take a look at three forwards who have displayed glimpses of quality that will certainly be worth taking into consideration as the Springbok coaches contemplate an unexpected selection or two.
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Ruben van Heerden
With the Springboks suffering a spate of injuries in the second row, it surely can’t go unnoticed that Stormers veteran Ruben van Heerden has completed 171 tackles with a 97.7% accuracy rate in this season’s URC.
The Stormers star look set to feature deep into the URC knockout stage, and so there is still every chance for Van Heerden to make a late play for Springbok selection after recently recovering from injury.
Juarno Augustus
One of the unluckiest players in recent seasons, injuries have regularly haunted ‘Trokkie’ at the worst possible time, and yet the Springbok coaches will have surely noted his Man of the Match heroics in Ulster’s recent Challenge Cup semi-final win.
Augustus was on the national radar last year before just missing out due to unforeseen circumstances, and although he wasn’t included in the Springbok alignment camps earlier this year, he is the sort of player who can’t be far away from consideration once again.
Evan Roos
The 26-year-old has often struggled to translate his form for the Stormers onto the Springbok stage for one reason or another. Nevertheless, Roos has once again been a standout performer for the Cape side this season, and looks to be a far more well-rounded player.
The big back rower is the leading try scorer in the URC, but it’s his improved discipline and all-round work rate that could see him receive another opportunity with the Springboks, with Roos having been included in a Springbok alignment camp earlier this year.
All the players who were invited to the first Springbok in-person alignment camp:
Forwards (28)
Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Kai Pratt, Emmanuel Tshituka, Vincent Tshituka (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Wilco Louw, Siphosethu Mnebebele, Ruan Nortje, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cobus Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (all Bulls), Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Neethling Fouche, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Salmaan Moerat, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Bathobele Hlekani, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Ruan Venter (all Lions)
Backs (21)
Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Cheswill Jooste, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard (all Bulls), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Markus Muller, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Quan Horn, Haashim Pead, Morne van den Berg (all Lions)