The Springboks are set to hone in a little closer to their strongest side when they name the squad on Tuesday for their penultimate warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff.
Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse is one name that will definitely get a run as the coaches move a step closer to their perfect team for the opening game against Scotland at the Rugby World Cup on 10 September.
Coach Jacques Nienaber indicated that the team would be allowed to start working on combinations, rather than the “spread the workload” approach this international season and it is likely that Hendrikse and Manie Libbok will be given time in the middle to start forming combinations.
From Nienaber’s discussion, it seems that Faf de Klerk might have a role off the bench as well, with Grant Williams having to wait before getting a proper start after lasting just 11 seconds in the Rugby Championship game against Argentina earlier this month.
“Jaden has to play ahead of Grant at the moment,” Nienaber said. “Jaden - because of his dad passing away - hasn’t had a chance to play yet and we want to see where he is at. We have seen him do well in the training sessions but in a game scenario it is different. If we have a chance Grant will get a gap at some stage.
“But also, Faf needs some time on the field - I thought Cobus (Reinach) was exceptional in the two games he played - the one in Buenos Aires was close to his best match that he has ever played for the Springboks in my opinion. Faf was excellent as well, but there are things he has to work on and he knows this. Perhaps we’ll play him on the wing,” Nienaber joked.
'NEED TO GET COMBINATIONS GOING'
The rest of the squad should start to show a bit more intent for the World Cup, especially as the time to experiment is fast coming to an end.
Nienaber said the selection would come down to where the squad was physically and using the depth the team has.
“A little bit of both. We sit with an experienced squad than most other teams have in terms of age and players who have 50 caps or more. We always thought if we keep form we would end up where we are now. Like I said in 2011 we learnt that lesson the hard way - you have this massive experience and guys who can win the World Cup, but the problem is getting them to last through the World Cup. That is why we built squad depth.
“That is why people look from the outside and ask why would you guys chop and change the squad? I promise you it is not nice to chop and change. Remember 40 per cent of our contracts are win bonuses - so it is tough to tell a coach - or an assistant coach - that we need to build squad depth. We might lose this test match - which is 40 per cent of your salary - but that is the best for South Africa where we are, for the squad we have. We might be wrong but we will only be right if we win the World Cup. If we don’t win the World Cup you would say this is the worst plan in the world. But that was what we decided - that this is the best way that we think we will be able to win the World Cup.
“We will probably chop and change less in the next two games - we need to get combinations going. We haven’t given the team the luxury of building combinations, and little micro units within the squad.”
The Boks will name their squad for the match on Tuesday.