Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will have a real selection headache in one key position when it comes to picking his first-choice Test team.
Ahead of the Springboks’ 2024 Test season, which begins in June with a match against Wales and will formally see Rassie Erasmus return to the position of “head coach,” excitement is already mounting.
But the most eagerly awaited opening fixtures of the year will undoubtedly be the two Tests against Ireland in July.
Rassie Erasmus will finally select his ideal matchday 23 for this season’s opening match against Ireland, especially because several first-choice players won’t be available for the Welsh match.
RASSIE ERASMUS HAS A BIG CALL TO MAKE WHEN PICKING THE FIRST-CHOICE SPRINGBOK SIDE
The Springbok coach will, for the most part, be quite transparent about his first-choice lineup, and to be honest, there isn’t much of a need to change from the team that competed in the 2023 World Cup final.
Duane Vermeulen has retired since that competition, but Jasper Wiese is a clear successor.
Erasmus’s biggest challenge will surely be deciding who to choose for the outside center.
Lukhanyo Am had held the position of No. 13 for a considerable amount of time, but he was unable to begin the Rugby World Cup due to a major injury.
By the time he had recovered and was able to be called up, Jesse Kriel had excelled at outside centre, defying the critics with a host of powerful performances.
Kriel ended the year as one of the Springboks’ unsung heroes, but also with a firm grip on the 13 jersey.
Am, who didn’t end up featuring in a single World Cup game, is now back to full fitness – but he has not always performed with the same spark in an underperforming Sharks side.
Meanwhile, Kriel had to leave his Japan club to return to South Africa for surgery on a hand injury, and he will only return to action in the coming weeks.
With the domestic games preceding up to that game possibly serving as a chance for both players to earn that selection, it will now be very fascinating to watch which way Erasmus goes when deciding who should start against Ireland.
Kriel might have to give up the starting spot to Am if he doesn’t receive a lot of playing time before the Test season begins, but Am also needs to get back to his best as soon as possible.
Though it is a fair selection conundrum, Erasmus must undoubtedly overcome it to land one of the most important jobs on the field.
CONFIRMED FIXTURES FOR 2024:
- Saturday, 22 June: SA vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
- Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
- Saturday, 13 July: SA vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
- Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
- Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
- Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
- Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
- Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (venue TBC)
- Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
- Saturday, 10 November: SA v Scotland (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
- 16/17 November: England v SA (Twickenham, London – date TBC)
*A report from French media outlet Midi Olympique has suggested France will face the Springboks on 2 November.
