26 November 2019, by: Quintin van Jaarsveld

What Could A Completely Uncapped Springbok XV Look Like?

2020 is set to bring about the dawn of the next generation of South African rugby stars, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

With Rassie Erasmus at the helm, Springbok rugby rose from the ashes in 2019. The men in Green and Gold captured their maiden Rugby Championship crown and went on to win the World Cup for the third time in Japan. All is well again; the painful rehabilitation process is complete. Some of the bleakest years in South African rugby history are in the rear-view mirror and the Springboks are on top of the world once again.

As is often the case, the global showpiece signalled the end of an era. Key members of the squad Erasmus assembled and moulded into world-beaters over the last two-and-a-half years either bid farewell or will continue their careers abroad.

Many will still be around for the 2021 British and Irish Lions series and the World Cup in France two years later, so it’s not a case of Erasmus, as director of rugby, and whoever takes over as coach having to start from scratch, but the ever-increasing exodus of top talent to big-spending overseas clubs will see a new wave of youngsters sweep over Super Rugby next year.

The future looks bright and the following uncapped stars are chief among those who have the potential to rise to Springbok stardom in the years to come:

One of the breakout stars of 2019, Green lit it up for the Lions in his debut Super Rugby and Currie Cup seasons. The manner in which the former Junior Springbok made the step-up to Super Rugby was particularly promising. He backed his skills and played his natural attacking game instead of going into his shell to avoid risking his place in the squad.While he mostly operated at No.15 in his remarkable rookie Super Rugby and Currie Cup seasons for the Sharks, Fassi’s equally adept at wing. One of the fastest players in the country, he famously chased down Aphiwe Dyantyi like a lion hunting a gazelle during last year’s Currie Cup semi-final, has the ability to create something out of nothing and he’s a born finisher.Another fresh face who burst onto the senior scene this year. Simelane announced himself on the Super Rugby stage in spectacular fashion with a Man of the Match performance against the Jaguares. He continued to impress throughout 2019, showcasing the footwork, creativity and speed that made him the 2018 Junior Springbok Player of the Year and certainly has a bright future ahead of him.The likes of Burger Odendaal and Harold Vorster are experienced campaigners and won’t look out of place at Test level. In the long-term, however, 23-year-old Ward – who’s equally impactful at 12 and 13 – has the most upside. The former Junior Springbok skipper’s progression at senior level has been slowed down at the Sharks, where Boks André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am have cemented themselves as the centre pairing of choice, but he has the pedigree to make it big.A lightning bolt of attacking brilliance, “Specmagic” could follow in fellow former Blitzbok pocket rocket Cheslin Kolbe’s footsteps with a strong Super Rugby season. At 30, and given the depth in the current Bok squad, he’s more of a long shot, but because he’s so similar to Kolbe, he would be a suitable stand-in should the World Rugby Player of the Year nominee suffer an injury.The likes of Shaun Reynolds, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Josh Stander are among the flyhalves who’ll be aiming for higher honours in the years to come. Libbok, however, is the most exciting uncapped pivot prospect. A schoolboy prodigy and former Junior Springbok staple, he’s a skilful playmaker and accurate goal-kicker. After sitting under the learning tree of Handré Pollard for a number of years, he should get ample game time in 2020 and will be further groomed by another Springbok great in Morné Steyn.The Sharks boast no less than three scrumhalves with Springbok potential. The experienced Cameron Wright will start in the inside lane and featured in the training squad for the 2018 June Internationals. Diminutive dynamo Sanele Nohamba was a revelation in this year’s Currie Cup, and then there’s Hendrikse. A complete No.9 and reliable goal-kicker, he starred for the Junior Springboks and was shortlisted for the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship Breakthrough Player of the Tournament award.Dayimani is almost too talented for his own good. A phenomenal athlete who stands 1.88m tall and weighs 100kg, he runs the 100m in under 11 seconds and has exceptional ball skills. As a result, coaches including Swys de Bruin believe he can be as good if not better a centre as he’s proven to be an eighthman/flank. He’s a can’t-miss talent – he just needs clear direction and proper management to fulfil his prodigious potential.A pure athlete in the same vein as his Lions teammate, Tshituka has the speed and hands of a back to go along with the physicality and workrate of a top-class loose forward. A multi-faceted attacking threat, he regularly unlocks defences with impressive pace, intelligent running lines and hot stepping that he developed as a young ballroom and hip hop dancer. Stormers duo Jaco Coetzee and Kobus van Dyk look the business at seven and eight as well.Buthelezi is a natural blindside flank and is bound to carve out a career at No.7, but he’s too hot a prospect not to be mentioned. He’s highly regarded not just for his physical attributes, but his leadership skills as well, having captained the Junior Springboks to a bronze medal at this year’s Under-20 World Championship in Argentina. A born leader and one who leads by example, he was the team’s top tackler along with fellow loose forward Dylan Richardson.The Sharks star’s biggest strengths are his agility, mobility and high rugby IQ. A streamlined second-rower at 2.02m and 109kg, he’s a lineout general who out-jumps and outsmarts most of his bulkier opponents. Andrews doesn’t shy away from and holds his own in the physical exchanges, but he shines the brightest as a roaming, tireless tackler who consistently matches loose forwards’ defensive output.A member of the Springbok end-of-year squad in 2018, Schickerling is the total package…phenomenal at four and five, and a capable flank as well. He’s a tower of strength in the lineouts, a physical force around the park and has proved capable of winning crane-like turnovers. Unfortunately, he’s been cursed with serious injury throughout his career, including breaking his neck in 2014. If he’s able to stay healthy, he’ll realise his Bok dream.No-one made a bigger statement at scrum time this season than the former Junior Springbok. His powerful scrummaging is like a car crash – devastating yet hard to look away. On loan from the Stormers, he destroyed all comers for the Lions in Super Rugby. While his strength and technique in the set-piece separate him from the rest, he’s mobile as well. He makes plenty of tackles and even wins the odd turnover.The 2019 Currie Cup was in many ways the Dweba show. The colossal Cheetahs hooker was an unstoppable force with ball-in-hand, scoring a joint tournament-high seven tries, strong in the scrums, clinical in the lineouts and outstanding in open play. He has a freakish fuel tank and a hunger for higher honours, which was clear to see in his Man of the Match performance in the final.The Sharks and Bulls have young diamonds in their ranks in 24-year-old Mzamo Majola and 22-year-old Simphiwe Matanzima. 2020 will be a test of their mettle as they’re set to get more game time at Super Rugby level. Smith, on the other hand, has already proved himself in Super Rugby. He’s tormented tightheads with his strong scrummaging and gets through a lot of work across the park.Backs – 15: Tyrone Green (Lions), 14: Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), 13: Wandisile Simelane (Lions), 12: Jeremy Ward (Sharks), 11: Rosko Specman (Bulls), 10: Manie Libbok (Bulls), 9: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks)

Forwards: 8: Hacjivah Dayimani (Lions), 7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions), 6: Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks), 5: Hyron Andrews (Sharks), 4: JD Schickerling (Stormers), 3: Carlu Sadie (Lions), 2: Joseph Dweba (Cheetahs), 1: Dylan Smith (Lions)

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