Springboks grapple with enduring No 8 conundrum ahead of Rugby Championship

COMMENT

Since the day Duane Vermeulen took off the Springbok No 8 jersey after the World Cup final in 2023, there has been a constant struggle to find someone to fill it consistently.

Coach Rassie Erasmus would be forgiven for considering the position cursed, and Jasper Wiese, the man long tipped to be Vermeulen's successor, will testify that it is.

Earlier this year, the Springboks indirectly suffered a blow when two exceptional Bulls No 8s – Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw – suffered season-ending injuries in the United Rugby Championship. Every time it looks like Wiese is building up a head of steam at No 8, injury or suspension strikes to remove him from the Bok fold for long periods.

It is currently another suspension — for a "head butt" that was more of a nudge in the series against Italy — that has sidelined the likeable but unlucky Wiese.

He will not play in the imminent two Tests against the Wallabies or the tournament's climax against the All Blacks in Auckland. Wiese is cleared to play in the second Test against New Zealand, in Wellington, a week after the September 6 clash at Eden Park.

In the meantime, Kwagga Smith, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Cobus Wiese are the likely candidates to fill the eighthman role, after Erasmus chose not to pick Evan Roos in his 37-man squad for the visit of the Australians.

None of the above are specialist No 8s, although they have played there at times.

Smith has started at No 8 in some heavyweight Test matches — against the British and Irish Lions in 2021 (one Test), France in 2022, Ireland last year (both Tests), and Scotland last November.  However, when he starts at No 8, he does not appear at home in the position and "gets by" rather than excels.

Smith is an integral part of the Bomb Squad not just because he covers several positions — even wing — but because he comes alive in the looser, last quarter of the game. It is a bit of a waste for him to start when he is a brilliant finisher.

Du Preez, a natural blindside flanker, has played No 8 for the Sale Sharks, and also lock. That makes him another Bomb Squad natural, while the same can be said for Jasper's younger brother, Cobus, who has played lock and flank for the Bulls, and started for the Springboks at No 8 in their last Test, against Georgia in Mbombela. But one of them must be elevated from the Bomb Squad to start against the Wallabies on August 8.

Others could play No 8, including captain Siya Kolisi.

He looked comfortable there for the Sharks, but Erasmus has indicated that he wants his captain in his favoured position of openside flanker. Erasmus's preferred loose trio has been Kolisi at No 6, Pieter-Steph du Toit at 7, and Jasper Wiese at 8, but not once has that combination started this year.

Kolisi missed the Barbarians and the Italy series because of injury niggles, and his first game back, against Georgia, was Wiese's first game of his suspension.

The Springboks have had their issues at the breakdown in that four-match block as they struggle to piece together their best-balanced loose trio. Du Toit and Kolisi are short on game time and thus certain to start in both Tests against Australia, and it will be the same for whoever Erasmus chooses at No 8 as the coach gets his team battle-ready for the All Blacks.

For the record, I fancy Du Preez at No 8 but have a hunch Erasmus will go with Smith.