The revelation in a sunday newspaper this weekend that Springbok veteran Faf de Klerk had been left out of the Bok touring squad for Europe on purpose, and not because of an injury, has prompted some speculation: Could this tour be the last one that the World Cup winning core of the group are together?
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that there will be a lot of changes going into the 2027 World Cup, as the Boks try to defend their back-to-back titles, and there are already question marks over the heads of some players whether they will make it to 2027 and use it as the swansong to end off their incredibly successful careers.
It is no secret that several of them will be in their mid to late 30s by the time the next World Cup comes along, and in some cases they have already indicated that they won’t be at the next World Cup.
Just last week in an event in Durban, winger Makazole Mapimpi plainly put it that he won’t be available for another World Cup, because he will be 37 at the time.
100 CAPS CLUB
Willie le Roux has slowly taken a backseat at fullback, although Erasmus has vowed to get him the last 3 caps so that he can join the 100 caps club. Le Roux will be 38 by the time the World Cup rolls around.
This season the Boks have used 49 players, and have spread the net far and wide. The inclusion of Bulls favourites Wilco Louw and Cameron Hanekom takes that number to 51 as the team departed last night for their pre-tour camp in Jersey.
There was disappointment as Erasmus didn’t include many of the 11 debutants in his squad for the November tour, and other than injuries that forced Louw and Hanekom’s entry into the squad, no new caps either.
NEW CAPS NEED TIME
The Bok coach has been firm with the belief that while using the old guard as much as possible, the new caps need time to blend themselves into the system and he wants them to get around 30 caps by the time the 2027 World Cup arrives.
But the clear message from the selection for the tests against Scotland, England and Wales from Erasmus is an easy one: No experimentation, the Boks want to go out and win all three to add to their Rugby Championship victory.
That means the same team that came together to do the demolition job of Argentina in Nelspruit and complete the Rugby Championship victory is likely to mostly start the first two tests, and if anything, Louw and Hanekom may be unleashed against Wales.
IRONY IF HANEKOM FACES WALES
As with all things, Erasmus bases his plans on the success of test matches, and while the Boks are winning, sticks to them. But there will be some wry irony to see Hanekom line up in Green and Gold against the country that has been actively courting him because of his Welsh grandmother.
But other than that, it is likely to be the tried and tested, world beaters that will take the field at Murrayfield and Twickenham to set the tone for the tour.
With the British and Irish Lions tour taking precedence next year and France touring New Zealand, the Boks will face three very low key test matches against Italy and Spain, before heading into a Rugby Championship where they will need to play two back-to-back tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
Erasmus is likely to give several of the newbies a chance in those three tests, as well as against the Wallabies in the two tests in South Africa, while again turning to his best against New Zealand in New Zealand.
But as we saw this year, that won’t preclude him from starting with a 22-year old flyhalf like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, or a relatively young fullback in Aphelele Fassi.
GIVE YOUNGSTERS AS MANY CAPS AS POSSIBLE
The reality is that while Erasmus will try and give the youngsters as many caps as possible in the lead-up to the World Cup, senior stars will be sidelined and in some cases fall out of favour altogether.
We’ve already seen the likes of Trevor Nyakane being ignored, while Jean Kleyn’s return to the Boks has been put on ice as well. With the likes of Steven Kitshoff facing a potentially career-ending injury, not selecting De Klerk is the start of that process.
This shouldn’t be seen as a massive snub, but rather in Erasmus playing his cards and trying to give the younger players more game time. After 58 tests, Erasmus knows what he has in De Klerk, as he does with Nyakane. And at any time can bring them back as long as they are fit and in form.
But the form of Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse is likely to take centre stage, with veteran Cobus Reinach still there, and suiting Tony Brown’s attacking plan, but another who will know time is against him when it comes to Australia 2027. De Klerk will be 35 in 2027, Reinach will be 37.
BOK WORLD CUP WINNERS ARE AGING
And prolonging the careers of some of the Boks best will have its advantages. Taking fresh and in form players, who are being pushed by younger, hungrier players is never a bad thing.
Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, and Lukhanyo Am will all be 33 by Australia 2027, Damian De Allende will be 35.
Up front it will be the same. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth, for so long the driving force in the Bok forward engine, will be 35. Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi will be 36.
But at the same time RG Snyman will be 32, as will Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit while Malcolm Marx will be 33.
And even if they continue to show form, it would be treasonous for Erasmus not to develop a succession plan, as he is doing at the moment.
The reality is that the golden age of Bok rugby, that included the 2019 and 2023 World Cup victories, will come to an end at some point. Erasmus will squeeze out all he can from that group, but along the way some will fall by the wayside.
De Klerk’s non-selection may not be the bombshell it could have been, the strength in depth makes it more of a footnote. But it is a reminder that everything has an expiry date, and the challenge to successfully juggle young talent and senior stars is never easy.
Not every Bok falling by the wayside will please Bok fans, but it is the circle of life, so to speak.
And this tour may be the last time that all these stars do play together as a unit. Before the changes begin in earnest.