Springboks’ forward depth grows, but No 8 position remains a concern ahead of Rugby Championship

The Springboks’ dominance in world rugby currently owes much to their formidable pack of forwards, and they are arguably the most dominant in Test rugby at present.

Following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, South Africa’s forward depth remains a key weapon of their success. While a handful of senior players and second stringers were absent during the mid-year Tests due to injuries and Steven Kitshoff retiring, others stepped up to the plate to stake a claim ahead of the Rugby Championship.

We take a look at the depth in the forwards.

Eighth man

This is probably the position that the Springboks are ‘concerned’ with the most. While they have players that can fill the gap at any given time, they haven’t, over the four matches that started the season, found a permanent stand-in. Jasper Wiese was out suspended; Evan Roos had limited minutes on the playing field.

Cobus Wiese stood in, but he is definitely not a long-term option for that position. Captain Siya Kolisi and Marco van Staden can also deputise, and they look like options during the Rugby Championship.

Loose forwards

In the absence of Kolisi, who only featured in the final Test against Georgia, there were more than adequate replacements that kept the flag flying on the side of the scrum. Kolisi will certainly be a first choice alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit, but the emergence of Vincent Tshituka, Cobus Wiese and return of Jean-Luc du Preez provide depth.

While Kwagga Smith is seen as a Bomb Squad member, he covers multiple roles at the back of the pack. It gives the Boks the option to chop and change among the loose forwards as they did in the last couple of matches.

Locks

Centurion Eben Etzebeth is the mainstay in the Bok second row. He will likely only miss a match going forward when there is a decision to rest him. However, he will be fired up to play every game.

Around him, the return of Lood de Jager made things interesting. He is back in form and Franco Mostert and RG Snyman have stiff competition for the No 5 jersey.

Despite starting to form a strong combination as newcomers, Salmaan Moerat and Ruan Nortjé could be the unlucky ones missing out on Rugby Championship selection due to the sheer depth and experience in the squad.

Front row

Despite the injuries to Frans Malherbe, Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu and Kitshoff retiring, the depth and readily available scrummagers the Springboks possess are impressive. Neethling Fouché, Boan Venter, and Asenathi Ntlabakanye stepped up in the front row. Marnus van der Merwe made his mark as hooker, and there is no doubt that they’ve all performed well in the mid-year games.

The Rugby Championship is a different beast, but they showed they are capable of being thrown in the deep end and swimming. The likes of Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nché, Thomas du Toit and Vincent Koch have adequate players to deputise for them.

The rise of the utility player

André Esterhuizen and his ability to slot in at the side or back of the scrum have become a trump card for the world champions. While he only started slotting into the pack recently, his shift has been planned for months. Smith, equally adept to all three back row positions in the pack, remains integral to the Bok plans as he continues to deliver game-changing performances off the bench.

Newbie Jan-Hendrik Wessels ensured with good performances at hooker and loosehead prop that the South Africans keep setting the pace in terms of using a single player in different positions when needed.