The Springboks will go into 2025 with battle fatigue looming large for the back-to-back Rugby World Cup (RWC) holders.
Despite healthy squad rotation last year that saw them win 11 of their 13 Tests and reclaim the game’s top ranking, the country’s leading players started this year with battle fatigue and injury very much part of the prevailing conversion.
The Boks were hit with a severe bout of absenteeism before their end of year tour of the UK last year, as commitments on two fronts in the United Rugby Championship as well as the EPCR’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions are taking their toll.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus will likely rotate his squad with similar alacrity this year and it is against that backdrop that some of the established players will have to serve notice of their enduring quality.
Double RWC winner Faf de Klerk lost ground last year as a thigh injury slammed the brakes on his season. His cause was hardly aided by the fact that his last Test was in the defeat in the second Test against Ireland in Durban. Though he was restored to fitness he was not selected for the end of year tour.
Another double RWC winner who has lingering questions about his career is loose head prop Steven Kitshoff. He had neck surgery after being injured while on the comeback trail for Western Province in the Currie Cup. Though his surgery last November was deemed a success questions about his playing prospects remain unanswered.
Another RWC winner who did not play Test rugby last year is utility back Damian Willemse. He was due to tour with the Boks on the end of year tour but suffered another setback on the cusp of the trip.
Another versatile talent emerged in Willemse’s absence. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has the world at his feet but injury continues to undermine his stride. He had a run of eight Tests before being sidelined and will be desperate to improve on that number this year.
Centre Lukhanyo Am returned from injury last year and played in seven Tests at the back end of the Boks’ season. He hasn’t quite recaptured the magic that made him the pre-eminent outside centre not too long ago and has some ground to make up on Jesse Kriel, who has established himself in the Bok No 13 jersey. This will be a year in which Am’s progress will be keenly observed.
The start of scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse’s Test season was also delayed by injury and though he played in five Tests he too will be keen to hit the high notes in 2025.
Having already indicated the 2027 RWC in Australia is a bridge too far, the shadows may be lengthening on wing Makazole Mapimpi’s Test career. He may be 34 years of age but his voracious appetite for scoring tries remains undiminished.
Fullback Willie le Roux is also staying ahead of Father Time and his impact remains keenly felt. Le Roux is two Tests short of becoming the next Bok centurion and he may reach that milestone as early as the series against Italy. The fitness of Willemse and the resurgent form of Aphelele Fassi may dictate Le Roux’s future deployment in Bok colours.
Loose forwards Ben-Jason Dixon and Evan Roos will also look at the Boks’ Test roster as an opportunity to re-establish themselves. The former delivered a mixed bag in his first international season, while the latter’s Bok disappointment was compounded by injury.
Erasmus is now spoilt for choice. He is in that position after using 51 players across the Boks’ 13 Tests last year.
He successfully re-integrated Fassi, flank Elrigh Louw, lock Ruan Nortje and tighthead prop Wilco Louw, while introducing 12 players to the Test arena last season. His crusade to build squad depth will likely continue as he sharpens his focus on RWC 2027.
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