Springboks’ second-row depth: From famine into feast

Just under a year ago, South Africa’s Rugby Championship campaign was held together by the unlikeliest of pillars.

With stalwarts Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, and Lood de Jager sidelined through injuries, it was Ruan Nortjé and Salmaan Moerat who stepped up. Even Pieter-Steph du Toit made the move back to lock after Moerat was out.

Fast forward to mid-2025, and neither Moerat nor Nortjé can secure a spot in the matchday 23.

Such is the embarrassment of riches at lock for the Boks at the moment. With all of the front-line locks back firing, except for the again-injured Kleyn, it isn’t easy to see how two of South Africa’s most promising young locks will find their way back into the side.

While Rassie Erasmus, Bok head coach, will make a plan to include Nortjé and Moerat, who also stood in as captain, somewhere along the lines, with seven ready and willing players, the rotation policy will be difficult to maintain.

Etzebeth remains the heartbeat of the tight five. Snyman is finally enjoying an injury-free run, and his explosive cameos off the bench, coupled with those perfect offloads, will elevate the Bok attack even more as it evolves under assistant coach Tony Brown.

Franco Mostert, a tireless workhorse, brings a blend of versatility when it comes to physicality and lineout plays.

De Jager’s return was a superb one against the Barbarians last weekend. It was amazing to see him go full tilt for almost 80 minutes in his first Bok match in almost two years.

He looks to be back at his best as he not only showed his superiority in the lineouts, but his cleaning at the breakdown and tackling was of the highest order.

All of this leaves little oxygen room for Nortjé and Moerat, despite vital contributions during last year’s crisis.

Nortjé’s lineout prowess and Moerat’s physicality were crucial in stabilising the Bok pack that went on to win plenty of games without their first-choice enforcers. These guys weren’t just stand-ins — they were solutions.

But now, the bar is higher.

Having all the locks fit, except Kleyn, added valuable depth to the Bok group for this year, but it clouds the selection waters, especially looking at the younger locks.

There are even promising locks like JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhard Ludwig and JF van Heerden waiting in the wings who haven’t cracked a nod yet.

It’s a testament to the Bok ecosystem that two players of Nortje and Moerat’s ability can’t currently find a seat at the table. It’s also a stark reminder of how competitive rugby at the top level can be.

Erasmus, though, will likely use one of them in the second Test against Italy, while the duel with Georgia could be one where both are used as a combination, looking towards the future.

While they were involved in the Rugby Championship last season, with the abundance of experienced locks available, they could be out of the running this time around. But that should not discourage them.

The ever-present threat of injury may still have a role to play, and the Boks could dial their number again.

For now, though, Rassie Erasmus and his management are spoilt for choice. South African fans can rest easy knowing that, even in one of the most brutal positions on the field, the next man in line is not just capable — he’s a world-class player.