SA Rugby recently announced that another Test had been added to the 2024 calendar, with the Springboks set to face Wales at the iconic Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, 22 June in a season-opener.
The match against Wales is scheduled to take place two weeks prior to the Springboks’ highly anticipated two-Test match against Ireland. However, as the London game is outside of the official Test window, it is likely that a reserve team will have to go to Twickenham.
Top players who are now playing in France or England will not be eligible for selection, and it is unlikely that players who are based in Ireland would be available, according to Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus.
It’s interesting to note that several players may get their Test debuts in this match, and Erasmus has already stated that the players selected would mostly be those invited to the first Springbok alignment camp of the season.
SO, IS THIS HOW THE SPRINGBOKS COULD LINE UP FOR THAT FIRST TEST?
Erasmus will most likely opt to use this game to have a look at some promising ‘newcomers’, while also adding some experience into the mix to ensure there is a fair balance to the first team of the year.
Possible Springbok line up: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Quan Horn, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
*Let us know what you think of this experimental side by adding a comment at the end of this article
RASSIE READY TO SELECT NEW-LOOK SIDE
“We can’t really say that the Welsh Test is preparation for the series against Ireland,” Rassie Erasmus said at a press conference in Cape Town last week. “The Welsh Test is outside the window. So those 43 men that were here for the alignment camp, the team will be selected from them, plus a few Japan-based players.
“It is almost a standalone Test match. Some of the guys who play at Twickenham won’t play in the Ireland Test match… I wouldn’t be calling it a warm-up. It’s a big Test against a Wales team trying to fire and get a spark. They have some young guns who are close to producing magic, so they will be tough.”
