As the Springbok coaches continue to meticulously plan out the road map to the 2027 World Cup, they have cleared demonstrated that a delicate balancing act is required between older statesmen and talented newcomers.
This has been a year where the likes of Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams, Ruan Nortje, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw and even Andre Esterhuizen have increasingly proved their immense value to the Springboks, and added immense competition to the team.
It’s left some World Cup winners in a real state of limbo, and here we look at four in particular who have a fight on their hands to prove their enduring relevance.
FOUR SPRINGBOKS IN LIMBO
Handre Pollard
The prolific points-scorer and double World Cup winner last played for the Springboks against the All Blacks in early September. Since then, it does seem as if Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok have jumped ahead into a position of more prominence. Pollard is still only 31-years-old, and he is far from being discarded, but there is a sense that he may not always be best suited to the Springboks’ evolving ambition on attack.
Faf de Klerk
Although De Klerk has endured a bit of an injury issue in 2025, it still speaks volumes that he has only featured in two Tests this year. The 34-year-old is clearly now fourth in the scrumhalf pecking order, and it’s likely that only an injury to a ‘competitor’ could see him come back into the mix.
Lukhanyo Am
Once the rock of the Springbok midfield, Am has endured some issues with fitness and form over the last couple of years, which has contributed to his ‘decline’ at national level. The outside centre will soon turn 32-years-old, and while he may be in limbo at the moment, he does have time on his side to prove he can successfully combat the competition from Canan Moodie and Jesse Kriel.
Bongi Mbonambi
With Malcom Marx entrenched as the first-choice hooker, and the likes of Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Johan Grobbelaar emerging as talented back-up options, there has been a knock-on effect that has seen Mbonambi slip down the pecking order. Only on the ‘standby list’ for the end-of-year tour, the 34-year-old will need to make his mark at domestic level to once again send a reminder to the national selectors about his qualities.
TEAM TO FACE JAPAN
Springboks – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
