Opinion: Springboks approaching selection balancing act with logic and transparency as days count down to World Cup

There are less than 400 days to go until the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As it stands, the Springboks may be defending champions, but it’s very clear that they cannot be regarded as outright favourites to defend their title.

Ireland have powered to the top of the world rankings, while second-placed France would surely be regarded as the team to beat at their home tournament. The All Blacks proved in the recent Rugby Championship Test at Ellis Park that they should never be written off, while England are quietly fine-tuning a gameplan that could easily take them to another final. Unpredictable Australia and Argentina, and ever-improving Wales and Scotland, can also beat any team on their day.

So, if the Boks are to stand a chance of claiming an historic fourth world title, they are going to need to assemble a squad of warriors who boast big-match temperament and experience, which goes beyond just the regular matchday 23. Rassie Erasmus knows it. Jacques Nienaber knows it. And the entire Bok squad and management knows it.

It’s the reason why the Springboks didn’t subscribe to the sensational backlash that followed after a completely overhauled team lost to Wales in the second Test in July. Erasmus in fact quite deliberately shared a video to social media, which showed him telling the players that a one-point defeat had certainly not prevented them from learning what they needed to about several new players.

Ultimately, the Boks have meticulously planned out very clear road maps for every player as part of a bigger picture plan that leads to France in 2023.

Injuries to Duane Vermeulen, Cheslin Kolbe and Bongi Mbonambi have led to the Boks exploring their depth in these key positions, but there have also been several other