To understand the Springboks' success after two World Cup victories, and the depth that is currently being built by coach Rassie Erasmus ahead of the 2027 World Cup title defence, the perfect place to go is the scrumhalves.
While most teams thrive on a pecking order, on competition between players and an attitude that this will fuel performance, the Boks have been doing something different.
Some of us may feel player X or Y is the top player in the squad, but to Erasmus and his management team, it is the opposite. The Boks' horses-for-courses approach means that the individual skills, rather than the competitive edge, is the selection basis.
By no means does the competitive nature get erased. That is a natural part of the modern sportsman across the squad, and the competition for the Green and Gold jersey is something that is innate in all players in the squad.
NEW LEVEL
But the Boks have taken this to a new level, and while fans may not always understand the reasoning, or the method behind the madness, the squad system is quietly building the Boks into a successful machine where the youth and experience have been blended, where the mission - current and long-term - is bigger than the individual.
Of course, all teams preach this, but often loyalty to players and memories of what they have produced in the past cloud judgements. This Bok team, however, is more focused on the now, with one eye on 2027.
While us media may write off a player and say he is on his way out of the team, the reality is that Erasmus and co won’t throw away a World Cup winner quickly, but rather try and get the best out of them so that as many of them get to Australia in 2027 as possible, while not hindering the rise of some of the younger stars in the side.
That is where we return to the nines - the nippy, often-chatty, smaller folk in the squad that have a massive say.
PLAYERS HAVE EVOLVED
As the Bok game plan has evolved, so have the nines - and the luxury of performing behind arguably the best pack in World Rugby is a wonderful luxury to have for them.
It may seem as if players like Faf de Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse are both on the outer because they aren’t part of the current 37-man squad, but not so. The Boks are blessed to have the likes of Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg in their ranks.
Van den Berg was the man of the match at Loftus in the first test against Italy, and in the subsequent two tests, Williams showed his speed and prowess to earn him the spot to face Australia on Saturday in Joburg.
But none of the five nines are outside the Boks’ plans at the moment. The variety of opposition, and their different strengths, means, like the 10s in the group, they can be called on depending on the opposition.
Erasmus explained it as such this past week when asked if Williams had cemented the spot as the No 1 nine in the group.
“If you look at the three nines, I think all three are test-match quality,” Erasmus said. “They are really close. Cobus is 34 already, but he brings a nice, solid, experienced vibe when he gets onto the park. But I think Grant has been firing very well. I think he’s over his [neck] injuries.”
Erasmus added that while the sentiment may be there to play Van den Berg on his home ground, the Boks were working with a plan.
“Krappie will get a chance next week in Cape Town, hopefully, if things go according to plan. If you lose momentum, sometimes you have to change your plan. It would have been nice to play him in Joburg on his home ground, but Krappie is one of the most humble and serving members in the team. He understands.”
VIRTUAL SESSIONS
Erasmus also revealed that De Klerk was one of the players who still logged in for virtual sessions with the team even though he wasn’t part of the squad.
Those not in the squad are left to work on individual skills with their franchise coaches and still join the team virtually in their first session of the week.
Erasmus then said the most important thing - that the jersey needed to belong to all players in the position, and they needed to support each other in the team’s approach.
“Hopefully, in the World Cup playoffs, we will pick the best nine in form. Faf is not at all out of the picture. Jaden is not at all out of the picture. We normally carry four nines. All the scrumhalves are competing and don’t want to just give the position away, but they also understand that we will rotate.”
“Grant is not necessarily the first choice, but the way we want to play in this game, we feel he is the best option there. I think the squad has now accepted that we are going to share jerseys and not just say this guy is out-and-out the best.”
Erasmus added that it could easily be a case where two players are injured in the same game, and then the depth would count.
HORSES FOR COURSES
“So we know if you don't go four positions deep, maybe suddenly in one game you get two injuries in one position. They're competing and they want to just give the jersey away, but they also understand that you will rotate. But there will be certain matches that we feel is critical, and that's probably when you play quarterfinals, semifinals, finals and so on, and maybe very important matches in the Rugby Championship.
“Grant got the nod for a very important match in this specific game. But this specific game and the way we want to play, it's not necessarily the first choice, but the way we want to play in this game we feel is the best option there. But I think the squad has now accepted that we're going to share jerseys and not just say this guy is out and out the best.”
That openness and honesty in dealing with players will leave them knowing where they stand and knowing what the team needs from them is a vital part of this process.
Bok fans will hope this approach will net them another Webb Ellis trophy two years from now.