So many questions for Rassie at Bok camp as Sacha, RG push for starts

Ruck&Maul Column

While the Springbok alignment camps are not trials or even have on-field training sessions, there is a lot at stake for the 54 players attending the latest edition in Cape Town – or online – this week.

With the United Rugby Championship and other leagues around the world winding down, the Test season is almost upon us – and then we will be able to participate in our favourite pastime: picking our own Bok teams for the first international against Italy on July 5 in Pretoria.

Knowing the meticulous planner that he is, you would think that Bok coach Rassie Erasmus would have already worked out what his starting XV – and indeed match-23 – would be by now for the two Italy Tests and the one-off fixture against Georgia.

The general consensus this year seems to be that Erasmus would pick newcomers and relatively inexperienced players against Italy and Georgia, and then the ‘A team’ would rest before returning to face Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

But I’m not so sure about such a strategy.

There are so many newish pushing hard for places in the Bok match-23 – and even starting side – that almost no player, at this stage, can be guaranteed a spot against the All Blacks in Auckland on September 6.

Let’s see who should, or may, be in that bracket. Probably flank Pieter-Steph du Toit is first on that list, although even his is not a straightforward situation.

The shoulder injury he sustained on Bok duty in November kept him sidelined until he rejoined Japanese club Toyota Verblitz in April.

But he has not been registered to play, and is only set to make a comeback in the SA game against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28.

Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse are clear favourites at wing, and so too are Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel at centre.

Captain Siya Kolisi has impressed at No 8 for the Sharks, but is sure to operate at openside flank for the Boks.

And you can add Ox Nche to a ‘definites’ list of starting Boks too.

But for the rest, it’s all to play for. Normally Eben Etzebeth would be a sure starter too, but his concussion and other injury niggles has seen him most of the Sharks’ season, and he will hope to get through the URC playoffs unscathed.

The camp in Cape Town on Thursday and Friday this week will already be without the injured Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Ben-Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane.

Malherbe, Louw and possibly Fourie would have been part of the ‘best’ Bok 23 this year, but the two loose forwards are out for the year, while Malherbe is under a cloud with his back problem.

For me, there are a few major question marks around certain ‘big names’. Is Damian Willemse or Aphelele Fassi the first-choice fullback?

Fassi has played more rugby this season and done well, but Willemse made his return from injury recently and has looked sharp for the Stormers.

Should Willie le Roux get his two caps to make it to 100 Tests?

And the biggest of them all: Handré Pollard or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf?

Pollard will rejoin the Bulls on July 1, but won’t play for them until probably the December Champions Cup fixtures.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been in red-hot form for the Stormers, so where is Pollard at with his game at the moment?

Erasmus would have been watching them in action, but may get a clearer view when he engages with both at the camp – although Pollard will be online only.

Jasper Wiese was the first-choice No 8 last year, but has a number of contenders for his berth and has been out injured for the last few months.

Cameron Hanekom is pushing hard for more Test caps, and Juarno Augustus has been invited to this week’s camp – although Evan Roos has been left out.

With Malherbe injured, should Erasmus go with Vincent Koch’s experience, or the in-form Wilco Louw’s destructive scrumming?

Bongi Mbonambi almost always plays at a higher level for the Boks than he does for the Sharks, but should Malcolm Marx or even Jan-Hendrik Wessels get more game-time?

The lock situation is also not clear-cut. Apart from the Etzebeth situation, RG Snyman has been outstanding for Leinster, and may warrant a permanent starting berth now.

So many questions, and hopefully Erasmus finds some answers this week.