Where to now with Springboks replacements - retirees or 29+ years of age players

It is very hard to think about the replacements  of players who are about to retire or already 29 years of age in the Springbok squad,  being 33 years of age by 2023.    Altghough other replacements will also be possible lets look at the situation at whom may come in contention over the next three years.

I say 3 years – but the mistake of the 2012 to 2015 must not be repeated,   In this regard there was  too many players with less than 10 tests to their credit in the WC  squad,   Early test experience should not be gained in the WC,

Another problem in previous WC’s was – especially in 2015 -  to select players based purely on reputation that was factually unplayable in the tests,  

So  lets look at potential replacements for the retirees and potential 33 year olds by 2023,

Willie  le Roux

He may be  one of the 33 year olds that remains in contention – but I am not sure he will

Potential  Replacements  

Warrick Gelant is the present  back-up  full back The negative is that he has a rather serious pace problem  and at times being out of position.  A candidate – but not sure he will make it.

Curwin Bosch  - a good player with pace but over the past few years I believe that he lacks BMT.   Can be brilliant – but also awful.   Potential  Candidate – but ............

Tyrone Greene -  another strong and very pacy runner  that impressed on CC level and is bound to play Super Rugby in 2020.  Watch out for this one on Super Rugby level

Muller du Plessis is the Dark horse in the field.  He will play 7’s this year – but then join the Sharks at the end of the upcoming tournament.  He can play at flyhalf – but used to play more often  at wing and full back in 15 man rugby,   His performances in his junior years  indicated a potential top class Springbok.   A certain sign would be if he is roped into training camps as early as 2020

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Makazole Mapimpi - 29

Not sure whether this key player in the WC this year will remain in contention in 2023 when he would be 33 years old.   Am sure Erasmus will endeavour to retain him – but one will have to wait amd see how he develops and maintain standards over the next two years or so.

Potential Replacements

Virtually all players referred to under the full back category can feature here,   There was a long list of potential replacements and we will have to see who makes the grade in Super Rugby this year,

Sbu-Nkosi  - is already the back-up wing

DH van der Merwe  - is playing for Edinburgh and making a name for himself.  Was impressive in the Champions Cup in the previous season.  A different kind of player to the present wings.  He is physically bigger nd Stronger – but has pace as well

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Frans Steyn

This is another one where the Springboks are likely to stick with the three incumbents, namely –

*    Lukhanjo Am

*    Jesse Kriel

*    Damian de Allende

There is a long list of replacements at present playing in the UK as well,  Some  of the players have been tried before and has shown limitations and was not re-used in the WC this year.   Those include –

Rohan Janse van Rensburg  -  had some ball handling issues and his defense was seriously problematic in the past.  Physically very strong – but he has pace problems.  He was injury prone in the past and played little rugby in the last UK season.    He got 3 MOM distinctions so far this season - sounds excellent to me

Andre Esterhuizen – did play some tests thus far.   He was not in the RWC world cup and has the same attributes and problems Van Rensburg showed previously.   There are serious question marks as to him fitting into the Erasmus game plan.   It must be noted that he was not called up when Kriel was injured in the WC squad and could not continue.

Jan Serfontein - is playing for Montpellier and was selected ahead of Steyn at center.  Already a Springbok of note and a potential future Springbok.   He was left out of the WC squad because of injury,   

Harold Vorster - was mentioned regularly in the past, but may not make the cut-off if what was the case under Erasmus is born in mind.

Players to bear in mind as outsiders -   Wandizile Simelane (Lions), Impi  Visser (Sevens) and Chris Smit (Maties Varsity Cup – likely Lions in 2020)         

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Elton Jantjies - 29

Although in the WC squad was never used in pressure games and is not likely to be in the squad in future.   Not many candidates around – but the following could come into the picture:-

Damian Willemse  - already in the squad as back-up and is likely to remain so.    This guy has  massive  potential

Curwin Bosch -  not at all sure about this one – has some reservations about him

Jordan Chait  -  another player with huge potential going to play for the Sharks in 2020 after being top class in the Varsity Cup

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Faf de Klerk - 29

Do not think he is likely to disappear from contention and Reinach may be in the same boat.  However – watch out for some other players coming through the mill in Super Rugby and in the NH clubs.

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Duane Vermeulen

The problem is how the following develop over the next few yearsL-

*    The Du Preez twins

*     Stephan Streicher

*     Hacjivah Dayimani

*     Juarno Augustus

The last two players  did not really shine in 2019 and we will have to see how they develop in future,   There will be some concentration by Erasmus to come up with an acceptable replacements.

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Francois Louw

The problem is that Siya Kolisi  at 28 is no spring chicken himself, but I think he will still be around in 2023.   The other flank absolutely sure to remain in the team is P-S du Toit – the World Rugby Player of 2019.

But where to from there?   The problem is more on the openside side than the blindside.   To my mind the position is wide open with a long string of players to watch out for in next year.   Please provide suggestions and I will check up further on the players proposed by members.

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Franco Mostert - 29

There is no chance this player will  feature in future,   SA has an oversupply of locks and there are too many coming through.   I think the real deal is Schickerling  already called up by Erasmus to attend a training camp.    Very likely to be around in the test squad in 2020 and there are others that could come through as well.  

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Please keep to players younger than 28 for any potential additions.

Tendai  Mtawarira

The Beast is retiring in a blaze of glory – and it will be a bit problematic to replace him.   I dio not include Kitshoff in the list.   

So please add a list of Loose Heads for consuideration.   I think the following may ne candidates:-

         *    Pierre Schoeman

         *    Ox Nche of the Cheetahs

         *    Thomas du Toit of the Sharks – rather imneffective in scrumming though.

         *    Smit of the Lions

As to the Tighthead situation  Trevor Nyakane is  already 30 years old and unlikely to make the 2023 WC,     Vincent Koch is also 29 years of age and he was not very effective on Saturay in the second half.   Also a likely candidate to depart from the scene before 2023/   

At this stage we have the following:-

Louw  -  I do not know why he is not a regular in the Springbok side.   There must be a problem – whether it is fitness or just not being active enough outside of scrumming - it is possibly the reason

I have no idea about who else to look at so suggestions will help.

ADD

2012 to 2015 saw the weakest generation of players since 1999-2002 being pummeled at super rugby level and incapable of making the leap up to test rugby. Only since 2017 did we see an emergence of a small few who could elevate themselves for test rugby. 

Where to now? Settle the midfield. Sort the loose trio. RG must start. 

AO

I actually tried to look at facts and not fiction and give an objective assessment,  There is no problem with the lock situation and I think Etzebeth, De Jager and Snyman will go through to 2023.

The center situation is acceptable and not as bad as you keep rambling about.   I can see some players coming through, but the fact is that one has rather to look at new players and not recycled ones.     

H ave you got any idea about other players than those mentioned to look at?

The attacking aspect of the Boks is a shambles. We play dour Stompies ball. Damian hasn't delivered on these years of an excessively bloated reputation. Fullback? Who replaces Willie? We don't have clear cut options. Every one has limitations and none replicate his play making. Eben and RG. Who else? The loose trio is a mess. 

Yet we score more tries in 2019 than we did in all years other than 2007 - when Egland sent a crap experimental team to SA for 2 tests and the Springboks also played Samoa.   In those three tests the Springboks scored 28 tries and that was never a norm to be used.  In no other tests since 2008 the scoring of tries dried up to near to the bottom of the try-scoring log and the outcomes were particularly weak between 2012 and 2018.

This year the Springboks score 50 tries an of those only 13 was scored by forwards.  How does that reconcile that with your statement  "The attacking aspect of the Boks is a shambles."

I am always amazed by your unsubstantiated statements that has no reality with whata ctuaklky happen i n tests,  Some real insight and not prejudice is called for,         

Wot about AwGoostoos?

He sounds like Snor, everyone's a winner, except the proven talent. If only rugby was won on a sheet of paper. 

'Jantjies......replacement'....gentlemen, we have a bowel movement!

Dave Thanks

I agree that there is adequate reason to look wider than perhaps the players I mentioned and I will check out the players mentioned by you and adjust the original thread accordingly,

In the end I think Erasmus and co will start phasing in new players from  the next test season.   and it will be very interesting to see what they come up with.     They have more or  less 48 tests before the WC and to replace players the latest they can really replace players in test 30 - thereafter they will have to get players to gain test experience.   I think in the first circa 30 tests erven some of the test players will be rested to get a look at new players.   The haphazard Meyer selection system that blighted the squad in 2015 will not be repeated.

Some of the newbie will end up not making the grade and will be out for keeps.   IN the meantime I will try and see whether I can get some inside info on the issue,  

.   

The full strength team selected itself. Rassie persisted with those players he deemed necessary to implement his bland and stunted Skop 'N Pop gameplan. 

That stupid plan that won the WC for the Springboks?   The shit you mentioned was not used in any game - bar the game perhaps against Wales where Erasmus indicated why it was necessary to make a slight change to the game plan.  Wonderful how the stunted plan you dreamed up of being in existence led to so many more tries being scored in 2019 than was scored in 2015  and how in 2019 backline players scored  37 of the total of 50 tries scored as against the 19 backline tries out of 35 tries scored in 2015.

Why don't you start thinking and researching info properly before you write tripe on site?   I would like a challenge in dealing with issues on site - not the childish junk which could cause my death through laughter.   Have pity on me please - I would like another 6 years or so before departure and you are hastening it.   LMAO            

The Bok blueprint hasn't changed since last year Lügnerin. The Boks are a territory first team. Kick. They were that team all through the year. They kicked a little less than the ever age against England because the English couldn't get out of their half for such long periods. Aside from that small detail, and a couple of scripted sequences from the Ellis Park loss last year, it was identical. Crash with the kick. Willie providing the invention to gloss over thr cracks. Maybe Damian was instructed to look for contact and that's why he blew that great attacking opportunity after the Willie run through the line. What do you think Lügnerin? Or was Damian just too dumb to read play? Oh I remember, running into a dead end, in Willie's blind spot which prohibited a successful pass was the best option! 

Dave

The Dumbo posted a game on site against Argentina in 2015,   The Springboks list the game since there was - 

*   no discernable game plan; 

*   their was no team effort - only individuals carrying the ball  and then lost possession;

*   no follow-up of kicks;

*   the scrumming was desperately poor; and

*   full of players who a few weeks later not surprisingly lost to Japan.  

Obviously the cl ueless coach has no idea about how to coach the team.  The same idiot claimed that the Springboks in the RC lost all three matches in the RC and claimed they performed better than the RC winning team in 2019.

There were 5 players in that team who played in the starting liner-up of the WC Final match and you would not believe how those five players improved in the latest test series.

It is really unbelievably stupid the idiot AO really is,        

Rooinek 

Read the story from the NZ Herald about why NZ lost in the semi and why SA beat the English.  It was the funniest thing I read for years when he discussed what the Springboks and especially De Klerk and Jantjies did in the warm-ups.

What the English and others did not know was that the real game plan was practiced and implemented to the T,   

It just proved how stupid Mozart and his sidekicks always are,         

Duplication 

Esterhuizen updated