Will these ageing Springboks get a farewell game?
With the Springboks looking to balance experience with youth, some well-known veterans may not receive another Test cap.
During a recent media day in Cape Town, Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus made some interesting admissions when discussing certain veteran players who are entering the twilight period of their careers.
“Some guys want a farewell match or a last match, but I didn’t have one,” Erasmus pointed out as he reflected on his Springbok playing days that included 36 Tests between 1997 and 2001 before his career came to an abrupt halt.
“Neither did Steven Kitshoff (receive a farewell game). Everyone knows that everything doesn’t always end perfectly.”
So which Springboks may miss out on a ‘farewell game’?
Last year, Willie le Roux reached the special milestone of 100 caps, but it appears increasingly unlikely that the 36-year-old will make another international appearance unless there is a spate of injuries at fullback.
Veteran prop Vincent Koch has also begun to be phased out of frontline action, and the 36-year-old’s Test career may well have also concluded at 63 caps.
Similarly, the depth at scrumhalf means it’s increasingly difficult to see a route back for popular double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk, who is now 34-years-old. He currently has 60 caps to his name.
Trevor Nyakane (36-years-old, 68 caps) and Deon Fourie (39-years-old, 39 caps) have also almost certainly already played their last games for the Springboks in 2023.
Others on the ‘edge’
Veteran wing Makazole Mapimpi is now 35-years-old, but with 47 Test caps to his name, it does still seem like there is a plan to see him reach the half century mark.
Another player who shouldn’t be ruled out just yet is Bongi Mbonambi (35-years-old, 82 Tests), but he is someone who does have to fight for his place as other younger hookers continue to come through the system.
“There are guys left out (of the recent alignment camps) who we know can still play for the Springboks this year,” Erasmus did tell Rapport.
“But why invite someone to an alignment camp where he has to listen again to how and why we do things? There might be four or five changes that I can simply send him on WhatsApp. You need people who will decide ‘I’ll show you, it’s not going to end like that for me’. And that’s what we want.”
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