With the series against the British & Irish Lions out of the way the Springboks can turn their gaze to the playing fields of the Rugby Championship and distant France where the next Rugby World Cup (RWC) kicks off in two years' time.
Before engaging the Lions, SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus had made it clear that winning the series was a priority and that building for the next RWC will only start thereafter.
They needed to assemble their best possible squad, which meant spreading game time and testing combinations would come later.
As it has turned out the Boks don't have much respite and go into back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina in Port Elizabeth over the next fortnight.
Given the physical and mental toll a Lions series exacts, that is not ideal as some players need to be rested, but it will give Erasmus and Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber the opportunity to put players in their wider group to the test.
Their hands are partly forced through injuries sustained during the Lions series by scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and prop Ox Nché.
Nché, who impressed in the first Test against the Lions, should come into selection consideration for next week's Test, while Duane Vermeulen, who had an ankle operation, looks likely to return to Bok colours for the first time since the last RWC final a week later.
Vermeulen, who reported for duty briefly at the team's training camp in Bloemfontein in June, rejoined the squad last week after surgery several weeks ago. He got injured while on duty for the Bulls.
De Klerk, who was injured in the second Test against the Lions, will be sidelined for a month, possibly five weeks, but should be ready for action in Australia next month.
That however may come too soon for Du Toit who departed the scene after just 20 minutes in the second Test with what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury.
Lock RG Snyman, who has not played since August last year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on debut for Munster, has departed the squad and returned to Ireland.
His time on the sidelines was prolonged by the fire-pit accident that also injured teammates, including Bok centre Damian de Allende.
Snyman required a skin graft that precluded his participation in the three-Test series against the Lions.
"RG Snyman has returned to the province to continue his rehab from a skin-graft procedure and knee injury," the club said in a statement.
Though it is yet to be confirmed, the Springboks are due to travel to Australia for two clashes against the Wallabies at the Sydney Cricket Ground on September 12 and six days later at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. They are then due to travel to New Zealand for two matches against the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland to mark 100 years of combat between the two nations. Those matches are however yet to be confirmed by Sanzaar.
Players who carried a heavy load during the Lions series, like the tight forwards as well as utility second and backrower Franco Mostert, may not play a full part against Argentina but in Lood de Jager the Boks have a lock in need of a gallop.
Mostert was outstanding against the Lions, proving equally adept at meeting the challenges in the second row and on the flank. In midfield too Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am have put in huge shifts and may get some respite. Elton Jantjies, who was left out of the match squad for the final test against the Lions, may also get a run.
With rest, recuperation and the next RWC in mind, prop Thomas du Toit, hooker Scarra Ntubeni, centre Jesse Kriel, wings S'bu Nkosi and Aphelele Fassi may now get the opportunity to step from the shadows.
There might even be game time for Jaden Hendrickse, who joined the squad last week as scrumhalf cover in the absence of De Klerk.
"Jaden is a talented player, and he has been in SA Rugby's junior structures from a young age, so we are excited to see what he can do at this level," said Nienaber.
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