LISTEN: Springboks ’not too old’ but local stars have ‘blank canvas’ to perform - Jacques Nienaber

Cape Town - While he feels that the current squad is very experienced and not old, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has stated that there is a “blank canvas” for new players to force their way into the mix for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Nienaber laid out his plans for the 2022 season on a SA Rugby podcast released on Friday, after the governing body announced the fixtures for the year earlier in the week.

The Boks will begin their campaign against Wales in a three-Test series in July, followed by the Rugby Championship, which kicks off against the All Blacks on August 6 in Mbombela.

While the end-of-year tour schedule has yet to be confirmed, the world champions are reportedly set to face Ireland, France, Italy and England on their trip up north.

Nienaber was criticised last year for not providing enough game time for the likes of Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse, Elton Jantjies, Sbu Nkosi, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Dan du Plessis while there were a few players outside the squad who were totally ignored, such as loose forwards Elrigh Louw and Evan Roos, and centre André Esterhuizen.

The Bok boss will be under even greater pressure this year to grow squad depth, as there have already several players pushing hard for selection in the United Rugby Championship – with Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant making a serious statement of intent in 2022.

Nienaber largely stuck to his guns last year, with the likes of Willie le Roux, Kwagga Smith and Franco Mostert benefitting from considerable amounts of game time, even though there were other in-form contenders at fullback and in the loose trio.

“What we are currently doing is that we are trying to construct a squad for this year. Obviously reviewing the squad we had last year, and