Over the course of the 2024 season, the Springboks have demonstrated they have a pool of talent prolific enough to field two separate teams that could be competitive at the highest level.
However, it’s the first-choice side that thrashed Argentina to win the Rugby Championship that sent out a reminder of just how powerful this ‘golden era’ generation of Springboks really is.
The Springboks have world-class players from 1-23, but in this hypothetical exercise, we pick just three international players who we feel could force their way into the SA team as it stands.
Could these international stars force their way into the Springbok team?
Antoine Dupont (France)
Perhaps the easiest selection of them all considering that Dupont is widely regarded as the leading player in world rugby right now.
The French star is a genuine rugby magician at scrumhalf, with his distribution, kicking game, natural flair, surprising speed and tenacious defence really making him the full package.
With Faf de Klerk heading towards the twilight of his career, the Springboks do have plenty of other options at No 9, but there is little doubt that Dupont would walk into that jersey.
Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
The 2023 World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year may not have hit the same heights so far in 2024, but he is still consistently the standout player in the current All Blacks team.
He might not be the biggest loose forward around, but he more than makes up for that with his remarkable speed, mobility, work ethic, powerful leg drives in the carry and an appetite for the physical exchanges.
In order to fit into a hypothetical Springbok team, he would probably need to start at No 8 (there is no way he’d displace Pieter-Steph du Toit or Siya Kolisi), but it’s actually as a member of the ‘bomb squad’ where he could be the perfect fit alongside Kwagga Smith.
Bundee Aki (Ireland)
The New Zealand-born midfield monster may be getting on a bit in terms of ‘rugby age’, but the 34-year-old remains one of the most fearsome backs on the international circuit.
Around this time last year he was undoubtedly one of the best players at the World Cup, and he has been a rock in the Irish midfield ever since making his debut seven years ago.
The 102kg centre would provide handy back up to Damian de Allende, while he also could be a real weapon in the ‘bomb squad’.
DO YOU THINK THESE SELECTIONS ARE ON THE MARK?
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