Springboks aim to bolster scrum strength while blooding new props ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup

The changing of the guard in the Springbok front row will start as early as the opening Tests of 2025, as the world champions look to build on and maintain their dominance upfront of the last couple of Rugby World Cup cycles.

Looking ahead to the 2027 edition in Australia, where the Boks will look to defend their title for the second time in a row, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus acknowledged that it’s time for them to bleed some new blood in the front row.

However, he and his assistant coaches want to see the Bok scrum keep that consistent dominance that has been there for the last six years.

With a handful of injured front-rankers and double World Cup winners reaching the age where they could start looking at retirement should they fall off the pace, Erasmus is eyeing the Boks’ 2025 opening international matches to introduce fresh blood to the SA scrum.

They will start their season next Saturday against the Barbarians in Cape Town, which will be followed by double Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha, and a one-off clash against Tier-Two nation Georgia in Mbombela.

Injuries to young loosehead props Gerhard Steenekamp (28) and Nthutuko Mchunu (26), and the retirement of Steven Kitshoff due to a neck injury, leave the Boks thin in especially the No 1 jersey.

Tighthead Frans Malherbe (34) and Trevor Nyakane (36) are also out injured, and will likely not be available for the world champions the entire season.

Erasmus will still be able to count on the likes of Vincent Koch (35) to provide experience at tighthead, along with Wilco Louw (30) and the uncapped Neethling Fouché (30) and Asenathi Ntlabakanye (26).

At the same time, Thomas du Toit’s ability to pack down on either side of the scrum brings valuable versatility to provide options.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels (24) has also proven a good choice at loosehead, and could be the solution with the other youngsters on the injury list.

The uncapped Boan Venter (26), playing for Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship, was drafted in as extra cover for the No 1 jersey and to keep him out of the clutches of Scotland, he could make his debut in July.

“It is natural that the older guys will retire or fall off the pace,” Erasmus said last week.

“But we would not like to change our game and (we) want to keep that forward power.

“Hopefully, the guys who get an opportunity (will step up). There will definitely be other guys playing this year without a doubt.”

This is a perfect opportunity for Erasmus to blend some of the players with the experienced front-rankers to ensure they adapt to what international rugby would require of them.

Italy and Georgia will provide good tests at scrum-time, which could be the platform to see how Wessels, Venter, and Fouché go.

The option will be there to combine them with the experience of Malcolm Marx or Bongi Mbonambi at hooker, and Du Toit and Koch as World Cup-winning props for certain matches.

Mbonambi (34) and Marx (30) have been crucial cogs in the middle of the scrum and contributed to the overall dominance.

The 28-year-old Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe will be eager to slot in between forward-going props as well, should he get his Bok chance.

He was outstanding in the URC, and could potentially take over from Mbonambi in the long term.

Wessels can, of course, double up as a hooker. His versatility will only add to the options Erasmus will have over the next month.