The announcement of the 21 players to be attending the virtual Springbok alignment camp is not only interesting from a wider team perspective with a massive international season ahead for the national side, but also shows that coach Rassie Erasmus is thinking further down the road than just this year’s 14 tests.
Over the past few seasons Erasmus has not been afraid to bring in youngsters with loads of talent into the side. The likes of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie spring to mind.
And while Erasmus is known to have a five-deep roster of players on a noticeboard in his office, and the meticulous planning is a hallmark of the double World Cup winners’ success, in some areas, the wealth of talent is aging and needs a refresh.
At lock for instance, the Boks have their go-to players they rely heavily on during an international season but many of them are aging and there has to be a succession plan ahead of the next World Cup after 2027.
Riley Norton, the SA under-20 captain was invited to the local alignment camp while the news on Tuesday that JJ van der Mescht, a former SA under-20 player himself, seems to underline the need to add players to the mix that can take the Bok engine room forward in the coming months.
Locks have been an issue for the Springboks, especially with long term injuries to Lood de Jager and on-off injuries to Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert and others.
Over the last few seasons the Boks have used Mostert (35), Etzebeth (34), De Jager (33), Jean Klein (32), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (31), RG Snyman (31), Salmaan Moerat (28) and Ruan Nortje (27).
While Moerat and Nortje are likely the lock pairing going forward once the others start to retire over the next few years, the Boks will need to find as much depth as possible if they are to continue to stay at No 1 in world rugby.
Cobus Wiese made his Springbok debut last season and is also 28, so the 26-year old JJ van der Mescht could be one of the masterstrokes of the season. Van der Mescht has had an exceptional season for English club Northampton Saints this year and seems to have given up his hope of qualifying for France.
Carlu Sadie’s inclusion is also interesting, especially as he has been seen as a massive scrum weapon over the years but his fitness and workrate let him down at times. But since moving to European champions Bordeaux, he has had a new lease of life.
The Boks are blessed with a number of tightheads - including Wilco Louw (31) and Thomas du Toit (30), while Frans Malherbe (35), Vincent Koch (36) and Trevor Nyakane (36) are all returning from long term injuries. Neethling Fouche, who has one test cap to his name, is 33.
Sadie (28) fits the profile, especially if the Boks lose tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye (26) to a doping offence, while the arrival of Kai Pratt (the 19 year old called up to the local alignment camp) and former SA under-20 captain Zachary Porthen (21) are players for the future.
The other players invited from overseas clubs are pretty much the stock standard who have played a massive part in two World Cup wins.
Also back in the mix are Herschel Jantjies (scrumhalf), a member of the triumphant 2019 RWC squad who last played for the Boks in 2023, and Lukhanyo Am (centre), whose last test was in 2024.
The other RWC winners invited to the camp are World Rugby and SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Thomas du Toit, Jean Kleyn, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Jasper Wiese (all forwards), as well as Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe and Manie Libbok (all backline players).
Two sessions will be hosted throughout the day to accommodate the players’ different time zones, where they will be presented with the Boks’ macroplan for the year and detailed visions by Erasmus and his coaching team in their respective areas of expertise.
This camp follows the first in-person camp earlier this month, where 49 players reported for duty in Cape Town.
“Our in-person alignment camp was successful in terms of exposing the players to our expectations and the detail we are looking for at international level this season, and we are thrilled to present those plans to the overseas-based players,” said Erasmus.
“The main purpose of the alignment camps is to get everyone on the same page and ensure that they understand our values and what we are trying to achieve on the field, and with the international season drawing closer, it’s a good time to get the players tuned into our systems and structures, so by the time we have our first official training camp in June, everyone is aware of what we expect from them.”
Erasmus added, “Carlü and JJ have performed really well for their clubs this season, and players such as Herschel and Lukhanyo, last played for us a while ago, so it’s important that they are up to date with how our systems have changed and what our key pillars are, so it is pleasing to see them among this experienced group of international players.”
Erasmus and his coaching team will host their second alignment camp in Cape Town followed by another virtual alignment camp in May, which will be crucial in preparing the players for the first training camp.
The Barbarians fixture will be followed by three local matches in the Nations Championship, against England in Johannesburg (4 July), Scotland in Pretoria (11 July), and Wales in Durban (18 July).
They will then meet Argentina in Buenos Aires (8 August), and the All Blacks in four tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in August and September.
This will be followed by an away test against the Wallabies in Australia (27 September). The second leg of the Nations Championship kicks off in Europe at the end of the year, with matches against Italy (7 November), France (13 November), and Ireland (21 November), before the Finals Weekend in London (27 to 29 November).
Players invited to first virtual Springbok alignment camp:
Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lood de Jager, Jean-Luc du Preez, Thomas du Toit, Jean Kleyn, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Carlü Sadie, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Boan Venter, JJ van der Mescht, Marnus van der Merwe, Jasper Wiese.
Backs: Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Faf de Klerk, Herschel Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok.