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IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Springboks grapple with enduring No 8 conundrum ahead of Rugby Championship
Jean-Luc du Preez, a versatile blindside flanker who has proven his worth at No. 8 for Sale Sharks, is a strong contender to fill the Springboks' crucial No. 8 jersey, offering another powerful option for the Bomb Squad. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix 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. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ 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.
The Citizen
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Boks call up Edinburgh prop as squad size reduced
Edinburgh prop Boan Venter earned his first Springbok call-up today. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named a group of 45 players following the completion of the team's first week of training in Johannesburg for the 2025 international season. With props Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu among six players released from the initial 55-man squad due to injuries, Erasmus drafted in Venter – a member of the Junior Springbok training group in 2017 – as the only new addition to his squad. The other injured players released from the squad are Lukhanyo Am (centre), Pieter-Steph du Toit (utility forward), Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus (both No 8s), while another five playersP: Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf), Jordan Hendrikse (flyhalf), Quan Horn (fullback), Renzo du Plessis (flanker) and Ntokozo Makhaza (utility back) – have also been released to their unions. Also read: 'Technical' roadblock delays Trokkie's Bok dream The majority of the squad assembles in Johannesburg this afternoon to continue their preparations for the season, while the Vodacom Bulls players, who battled it out with Leinster in the URC final yesterday, will join their teammates tomorrow night, and RG Snyman on Tuesday afternoon. The English Premiership final players, Handre Pollard and Thomas du Toit, meanwhile, will report for duty tomorrow and next Monday (initially for three days) respectively, while Venter will join the squad on June 29. 'Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,' said Erasmus. 'We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover. 'There are a number of players out with long-term injuries, while others are set to return from injury in the next few weeks or months, so they will complete their rehabilitation at their clubs and franchises. 'In terms of the other players released, we feel we have good cover in those positions at this stage, but they are all on standby to join us at any time if we need to call on them.' Read more: Balance key for Boks – Rassie Commenting on Venter's call-up, Erasmus said: 'Boan has been consistent for Edinburgh in the URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and he is familiar with the South African structures after playing for the Cheetahs and coming through our junior ranks, so we are looking forward to seeing him in action on the field.' The Boks will kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, before facing Italy in back-to-back Tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12 respectively, and Georgia in Mbombela on July 19. Springbok squad: Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Neethling Fouche (Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Vincent Tshituka (Sharks), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Lions), Damian Willemse (Stormers), Grant Williams (Sharks). The post Boks call up Boan as squad size reduced appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
