Opinion: Springboks blessed with backline depth as United Rugby Championship teams hit form

Before the end of May, Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber will name the first official squad of the year. It might be a complete cliche to suggest it’s a selection that will be giving him sleepless nights, but it’s no exaggeration that South Africa’s player resources have rarely been this plentiful.

Besides the array of world-class players plying their trade abroad, the local game is in rude health, with the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers all flexing their metaphorical muscles on the way to booking berths in the United Rugby Championship play-offs. And while the Lions might be down in 11th spot, they have been far from easy-beats this season.

In part one of this article series, we take a look at each position in the backline in order to paint a clearer picture of the Boks’ enviable depth across the board (*Part two will be published next week).

Willie le Roux

Back-up options: Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Warrick Gelant

This is a position where there is an abundance of depth for the Springboks. All of the so-called ‘back-up’ players have been in outstanding form for their respective franchises in the United Rugby Championship, but Le Roux is the man Rassie Erasmus and Nienaber have backed consistently as the first-choice full-back since 2018. That is likely to remain the case through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, although there would be value in expanding the Boks’ depth by providing ample game-time to the players next in line over the course of the 2022 Test season.

Cheslin Kolbe

Back-up options: Seabelo Senatla, Sbu Nkosi, Rosko Specman

Kolbe is expected to recover from thumb surgery in time to face Wales in the mid-year Tests. There is a chance Nkosi may also be close to completing his injury