The Springboks will need to select an experimental side in the first Test of 2024 against Wales. This is how they could line up.
The clash against Wales will also be played two weeks before the Springboks’ blockbuster two-Test battle against Ireland, but it’s clear that a second-string side will need to make the trip to Twickenham as the London game falls outside the official Test window.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus will not be able to select top players currently playing in France or England, while it’s also unlikely Ireland-based players will be available.So, is this how the Springboks could line up for that first Test? Erasmus will most likely opt to use this game to have a look at some promising ‘newcomers’, while also adding some experience into the mix to ensure there is a fair balance to the first15 Canan Moodie, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Quan Horn, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Eben Etzebeth , 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
“We can’t really say that the Welsh Test is preparation for the series against Ireland,” Rassie Erasmus said at a press conference in Cape Town last week. “The Welsh Test is outside the window. So those 43 men that were here for the alignment camp, the team will be selected from them, plus a few Japan-based players.
“It is almost a standalone Test match. Some of the guys who play at Twickenham won’t play in the Ireland Test match… I wouldn’t be calling it a warm-up. It’s a big Test against a Wales team trying to fire and get a spark. They have some young guns who are close to producing magic, so they will be tough.”
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