The spate of injuries in the past few weeks in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship could well have forced a rethink for Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus as he prepares to announce his squad for the Nations Championship tests against Italy, France, and Ireland next month.
Erasmus will announce the team this week, ahead of the final group of URC matches that take place this weekend before the competition goes into a month’s hiatus to make way for the Nations Championship.
And after the glory of winning Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and less than a year out of the defence of the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup crown, all eyes will be on the Bok coach to see if he gives some new blood an opportunity, whether he rests some of the players who have had a lot of action in the past few months or whether he sticks with the tried and tested and looks to win the newest tournament on the test calendar.
NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT FLAWED
What complicates it more for Erasmus is that the Boks could win all three tests and still end up unbeaten and not in the final, which will pit the side that finishes on the top of the Southern Hemisphere log against the team on the top of the Northern Hemisphere log.
The Boks and All Blacks are both unbeaten and it can arguably be said that the New Zealanders have an easier tour, facing England, Scotland, and Wales in their next three fixtures.
In reality he would probably want to give some of the players a rest, and have them fresh, but the Boks have already managed their minutes of their players a lot better than other teams and the bulk of the players who were in the RGR series are based in Japan and have not started their season yet, which is a good thing for the national side.
Still, losing players such as Cheslin Kolbe (broken jaw) and Andre Esterhuizen (ankle) can be troubling for the Boks, although their depth means that other players will get the chance to step up.
KOLBE AND ESTERHUIZEN BLOW
But both Kolbe and Esterhuizen may be more of a blow than was thought, especially with the winger doubling up as a fullback and scrumhalf option and taking the kicking duties during the international season as well.
Esterhuizen’s hybrid role isn’t one that can be replaced easily and gives Erasmus a lot of leeway in the selection of a bench. The fact that Esterhuizen needs ankle surgery is a big concern as he won’t be in action for the rest of the year.
The same goes for Eben Etzebeth, who is out with a leg injury, without much more clarity and it is touch and go whether the most-capped Bok will be available for the November tour as well.
The Boks are already without RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith, both double World Cup winners who are recovering from long term injuries.
There were also injuries to Deon Fourie, who was one of the hookers in the RGR series and suffered a hamstring injury while Andre-Hugo Venter also was injured on Saturday.
POLLARD INJURY COMPLICATES THINGS
Add to that the hamstring injury to Handre Pollard at the Bulls - for which clarity on the severity is still being sought - and there are a few injuries to take into account.
And then there are the contenders, who have also been dealt injury blows. Cheslin Jooste has a broken cheekbone and has been told to have “extended rest” according to a Bulls press release while Jurenzo Julius, another top contender, has a hamstring injury and has returned home from the Sharks tour.
The ongoing debate on player welfare also extends to the Boks, as Ben-Jason Dixon’s prolonged absence from the game because of “concussion symptoms” hasn’t been fully explained and it is uncertain if and when he will return to action.
As is Canan Moodie, who was already due to return from his HIA a few weeks back, but the Bulls acknowledged that with his history, they were “taking it slow” and would give him extra time. It is expected that Moodie will tour with the Boks though.
Of those not capped yet, there is an open debate whether this tour may be the right one for players such as Sebastian de Klerk or Zekhethelo Siyaya to be called up and get a taste of Springbok action. The same goes for fringe players like Luan Giliomee and Erich Cronje, who have starred in the URC.
LOADS OF COVER IN ALL POSITIONS
But whatever way Erasmus plays it, there is enough cover in all positions, with Ethan Hooker set for a bigger role as he covers the midfield and wing, and was one of the Bok stars in the RGR series.
If Esterhuizen is replaced, it may be as simple as Hooker moving into the back-up 12 position with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel the incumbent midfield pairing.
Etzebeth’s injury could open the door for someone like Cobus Wiese to get an extended run, while the likes of Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert, Riley Norton, Salmaan Moerat, Jean Kleyn, Ruben van Heerden and Ruan Nortje are all available.
There aren’t likely to be too many changes to the pack, and at 10 if Pollard is injured and unavailable, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok are the two incumbents. Feinberg-Mngomezulu can cover 15 as can Libbok and Damian Willemse, the incumbent 15 can cover 10 and 12 as well if needed.
So while the injuries are a setback, they are also an opportunity, and it will be interesting to see how much, if any, new blood is introduced, and the selection will also determine how seriously the Boks are taking the Nations Championship.