Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber is set to name his Rugby World Cup squad on Tuesday, August 8, as South Africa look to defend their title.
Ahead of the announcement, we take a stab at predicting the 33-man squad that Nienaber will take to the tournament in France.
Front-row
The core group of props, minus the retired Tendai Mtawarira, from 2019, are set to feature in back-to-back Rugby World Cups.
Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Vincent Koch all featured in the final against England four years ago and will undoubtedly play in 2023.
Trevor Nyakane picked up an injury in the opening game of the tournament against New Zealand but is set to get another crack at the World Cup this year. At the same time, his replacement in Japan, Thomas du Toit, looks set to make the initial squad this time around.
Although he missed the Rugby Championship due to injury, expect Ox Nche to take the sixth and final spot in the squad.
As for the hookers, the Springboks could take just two hookers, with Deon Fourie covering as a third option, but we predict that Nienaber will opt for a 20-13 split in favour of the forwards.
This means that Bongi Mbonambi, Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba fill up the three hooker slots.
Locks
Many teams will likely pick just four locks, but we predict the Springboks will go with five, with Franco Mostert doubling up as an option in the back-row.
Mostert is set to be joined by centurion Eben Etzebeth and fellow Rugby World Cup winners Lood de Jager and RG Snyman.
Jean Kleyn narrowly misses out in our prediction, as we believe Marvin Orie will get the nod instead. Orie has recently filled the number four and five lock roles for the Springboks and Stormers, with his form more than deserving of a World Cup place.
Loose forwards
There is some doubt over Siya Kolisi‘s fitness, but he is set to be included in the squad regardless. With no definite timeline for his return, the likes of Fourie and Kwagga Smith will battle it out to fill his vacancy for the time being.
Fourie’s inclusion means that Marco van Staden narrowly misses out on a Rugby World Cup spot once again, with Fourie’s experience in France, paired with his form and ability to cover hooker, giving him the edge.
On the blindside flank, Nienaber will have Smith and Mostert as cover for Pieter-Steph du Toit, who looks to be hitting his 2019 form once again.
Finally, the two number eights in the squad are set to be Duane Vermeulen and Jasper Wiese.
🇿🇦 Duane Vermeulen leading by example for the Springboks. #RSAvAUSpic.twitter.com/zDRKsGPan9
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
Scrum-half
Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies featured in the successful 2019 campaign but may have lost their spots to Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams.
Hendrikse will not feature for the Boks before the squad is announced, but he impressed for the side last year and has done enough to secure his position.
Meanwhile, Williams has been in electrifying form for the Boks, and while his first start was interrupted seconds after the first whistle, he adds pace and dynamism to the ranks.
Faf de Klerk is arguably the only number nine who is sure to be selected, making this one of the most hotly contested positions.
WHAT. A. TRY! 🤯
Curwin Bosch and Grant Williams tear Toulouse apart! ⚡️ #HeinekenChampionsCup #TOUvSHA pic.twitter.com/XpauX8HFRy
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 8, 2023
Fly-half
Like Kolisi, Handre Pollard won’t feature for the Springboks this year before the team is announced, but his proven pedigree makes him a sure pick for the coaching staff.
He looked to be in excellent form for Leicester Tigers before injury struck and has produced in the clutch on several occasions in the Green and Gold to warrant some leeway.
With Elton Jantjies dropped from the squad, Manie Libbok is set to be Pollard’s deputy after two impressive seasons with the Stormers. He showed signs of what he is capable of at international level and will want to step it up a few gears in France.
Centres
Not much change here as the three centres that did duty in Japan in 2019 look certain to represent the Springboks at Rugby World Cup 2023.
Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am have all been key figures in the Springboks squad throughout this World Cup cycle and are bound to be selected for the title defence.
This does, however, mean that Andre Esterhuizen misses out again. Unfortunately, for the brilliant centre, the constraints of the squad and injuries mean that the Springboks can’t afford two inside centres.
We do hope that this prediction is incorrect, but it does seem difficult to fit the in-form Harlequins man in the squad.
With Am and Kriel capable of filling in on the wing, and De Allende and Am also able to play inside centre, there is a chance that Esterhuizen cracks the nod at the expense of an outside back or a forward, but it does seem unlikely.
Outside backs
Simply put, two of the wingers are straightforward selections; Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe. The two have been in sublime form for the Springboks, and their ability to break a game wide open make them easy picks.
Then there is the case of Makazole Mapimpi v Canan Moodie, experience v youth. Moodie does offer cover at full-back, but with Arendse and Kolbe doing the same, it is not necessary.
🤤 What a try!
🇿🇦 The Springboks have been have been ruthless, and Kurt-Lee Arendse gets his second.#RSAvAUS #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/sRiwCj7JTW
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 8, 2023
So, we expect Mapimpi to take the last wing spot, having gone from strength to strength for the Springboks since making his debut against Wales in Washington in 2018.
The flyer is still one of the most potent finishers in the game, and while he wasn’t at his best against the All Blacks, he is still world-class.
Finally, Willie le Roux has shown just how important he is to the Springboks attack and will be one of the first names Nienaber writes down in ink.
Likewise for Damian Willemse, who is set to provide Nienaber options at full-back, fly-half and inside centre.
Overall, there are players who can not be overlooked by the coaching team and who possibly secured their place before the first whistle was blown in 2023.
However, just outside that bracket, there are players making the decisions incredibly difficult for the Bok coaching staff.
Predicted Springboks Rugby World Cup squad
Props: Steven Kitshoff, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Thomas du Toit
Hookers: Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Joseph Dweba
Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Marvin Orie, Franco Mostert
Loose forwards: Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith, Deon Fourie
Scrum-halves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams
Fly-halves: Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok
Centres: Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel
Outside backs: Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Makazole Mapimpi, Willie le Roux, Damian Willemse
READ MORE: Argentina v South Africa preview: Springboks to spoil the Buenos Aires send-off
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