RASSIE'S RADAR | Taking stock of the Springboks' fullback options

The South African United Rugby Championship teams have some time off after two weekends of brutal South African derbies, with sore bodies getting an opportunity to recharge.

But one man who won’t be getting any rest is Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, who is probably using the break to take stock of his options heading into the 2026 international season later this year, while having one eye on the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Yesterday morning, the attention briefly shifted to the showpiece event Down Under when the Springboks’ fixtures were confirmed. The Boks face Italy, Georgia and Romania in Group B in just over 18 months’ time.

As Erasmus stews over his squad, we look at potential Bok options and the form of the current crop of players in each position, starting with the fullback berth.

Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)

After suffering a serious ankle injury in the Springboks' record win over the All Blacks in Wellington last year, Fassi has returned stronger than ever. He produced two wonderful performances against the Stormers over the last two weekends, showing off his all-round game with touches of his attacking class, tactical kicking brilliance and defensive grit. Besides his running game, he has become one of the world’s best players under the high ball, while his left boot has really come to the fore with a few “50-22” efforts.

Willie le Roux (Bulls)

The highlight of Le Roux’s weekend was fighting with fans on the social media platform X following the Bulls’ big win over the Lions. Le Roux is in the twilight of his decorated rugby career and it’s hard to see the veteran No 15 making it back into the Bok jersey in 2026, never mind the Rugby World Cup in Australia. He has lost a bit of that spark that made him such an attacking threat, with his decision-making and running game not up to the standard we have been used to over the last decade.

Damian Willemse (Stormers)

Willemse hasn’t actually played a lot of fullback for the Stormers in 2026 because of all the injuries in their backline. He did line up in the No 15 jersey against the Sharks, but he didn’t have the impact that Fassi had at Kings Park. Injuries have also disrupted his rhythm, and he actually didn’t look fully fit against the Sharks. He remains a vital cog in the Bok set-up because of his outrageous versatility. Hopefully, he can use the break to get over his niggles and come back stronger.

Quan Horn (Lions)

The Lions’ custodian is slowly getting back to his best after a slow start to the season. Horn is a steady player who rarely makes mistakes, but the Lions have been guilty of not making use of his fantastic ability with ball in hand. It was hard for him to get into the game against the rampaging Bulls over the weekend, but he showed in their previous matches that he can be a danger when he gets the ball in space. Many, however, feel that he needs to try and take more responsibility to spark something for his team. He seems to be trapped in his shell.

Tyrone Green (Harlequins, England)

Green, who qualifies for England this year, continues to be the most talked-about South African fullback playing abroad. His performances in the English Premiership have been consistently good, frequently topping the charts for "defenders beaten" and "metres made". He also possesses a gritty, tenacious playing style that would fit the Boks’ mentality. However, Erasmus and his coaching staff will probably not look his way, having pretty much ignored him over the last few years.

*On Thursday, Independent Media will be looking at the Springboks' wing options in our Rassie's Radar series.