When the Springboks recently named their squad for the end-of-year tour, what largely slipped under the radar was the fact that veteran scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was omitted despite being fit and available for selection.
After missing the Rugby Championship due to injury, De Klerk was expected to be back in the mix for the November Tests, but instead Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach, and Jaden Hendrikse were picked to cover scrumhalf on tour.
De Klerk has just turned 33-years-old, but Reinach will turn 35 in February, so it is an interesting call clearly not just based on age.
However, there are whispers that it does indicate a gradual shift away from some veterans that played a role at the 2023 World Cup.
Similarly to De Klerk, there is no doubt that Trevor Nyakane has been one of the Springboks’ most popular and influential players of all time. The big man has featured in 68 Tests, while forming part of the successful World Cup squads in 2019 and 2023, as well as the series triumph over the British & Irish Lions in 2021.
However, it is understandable that as the Springboks begin a new four-year World Cup cycle and begin to look at some newcomers in the wider squad, Nyakane is one of the players who has not received much regular game-time.
The 35-year-old did feature as a substitute in the one-off Test against Portugal in July, but he was then released from the team camp, and has since been featuring for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and URC.
As expected, Nyakane was not called up to the squad for the end-of-year tour, although the Springboks certainly know what they have in a workhorse like him, and he offers a wonderful insurance policy should the need arise.
Yet there is also a chance that we may have seen the last of the affable front rower in the green and gold, which is a rather sad prospect.
Updated Springbok squad
Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), RG Snyman (Leinster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS SQUAD?
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