Springboks Selection Barometer Part 6 – The Outside Backs

We shift the spotlight to the backs as we continue to look at the depth at the Springboks’ disposal and the form of the leading local and foreign-based players in the hunt to front the British & Irish Lions.

In the final instalment of a six-part series, Quintin van Jaarsveld focuses on the outside back options. 

The back three who helped the Springboks to World Cup glory in Japan two years ago, the last time we saw the men in Green and Gold on the park due to the pandemic, are primed to reunite. Try-scoring machine Makazole Mapimpi, pint-sized predator Cheslin Kolbe and veteran Willie le Roux are fit and raring to go.

Springboks Selection Barometer Part 5 – The Midfield

With so many variables to consider in the overall make-up of the squad, there’s a myriad of ways the Springboks selectors can go about deciding which players are best-suited to provide cover and extra firepower out wide. Let’s take a closer look at the leading outside backs vying for places in the 45-man squad set to be announced on Saturday:

Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)

Kolbe’s is one of the first names to be jotted down on the Springboks team sheet as he’s the world champions’ point of difference. Many experts believe the diminutive dynamo is the best player in the world and it’s easy to see why, with the tiny wizard leaving defenders and spectators spellbound with his unique brand of game-breaking flair. He’s yet to put a foot wrong in a Springboks jersey and has been terrific for Toulouse, helping the club to a record fifth European Champions Cup crown and claiming the Try of the Season award to boot. 

? “It had outstanding skill, pace and individual brilliance from Cheslin Kolbe to score."

Your Try of the Season 2020/2021 goes to  superstar @Cheslin_Kolbe11! ?

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— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup)

Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)

A predatory finisher, Mapimpi boasts an incredible strike rate for the Springboks – 14 tries in as many Tests, one of which being South Africa’s first-ever five-pointer in a World Cup final, and he continued his try-scoring ways for Johan Ackermann’s Docomo Red Hurricanes during the Japanese Top League that recently wrapped up. Back in Durban, the speedster will continue to sharpen his skills in the next few weeks before he dons his Green and Gold No.11 jersey again.

Sbu Nkosi (Sharks)

While not quite as spectacularly as Kolbe, Nkosi has a knack for producing moments of magic. Blessed with size, power, pace and athleticism, he can break tackles as well as ankles and acrobatically finish off in the corner. The supreme athlete can also eat up metres despite being blanketed, an invaluable trait that sets him apart from the rest of the men on this list. He’s had some good moments but is still building a head of steam for the Sharks in the local Rainbow Cup tournament.

Springboks Selection Barometer Part 4 – The Halfbacks

Rosko Specman (Cheetahs)

Very similar in size and skill to fellow former Blitzboks star Kolbe, he’s a lightning bolt of attacking brilliance and hasn’t lost any of his “Specmagic”, scoring some spectacular tries during the summer including our top touchdown of the Super Rugby Unlocked tournament. He was one of the sharper players in a rusty Cheetahs team who lost their first match after two months in limbo to an Invitational XV at the weekend and has been loaned to the Stormers for the next couple of weeks, a clear indication that he’ll be included in the squad. 

The Rest:

Raymond Rhule and Dillyn Leyds have been playing some of their best rugby at La Rochelle, reigniting their hopes of returning to the Springboks fold by helping the club reach their first-ever Champions Cup final and positioning them prominently in the Top 14. Rhule has been particularly impressive and made the shortlist for the European Player of the Year award, while Leyds is equally adept at fullback. 
Madosh Tambwe from the Bulls is the leading local wing at the moment, while Edwill van der Merwe has scored some sensational tries for the Stormers. Rabz Maxwane scored a gem last time out as well and has a bright future ahead of him, while his Lions teammate Courtnall Skosan has been on the Test stage before. Blitzbok Werner Kok is a human tornado, while fellow Sharks speedster Yaw Penxe also has the potential to play at the highest level

Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)

Criticized by a large part of the Springboks fan base during the 2019 World Cup, the Chasing the Sun docuseries shed light on Le Roux’s importance in the overall composition of the squad and that hasn’t changed. The future is catching up to him, however, so he’ll be ultra-motivated to make the most of the time he has left in the No.15 jersey. The veteran will be high on confidence after a standout season for Toyota Verblitz, which earned him a place in the official Team of the Tournament.

Damian Willemse (Stormers)

Like Le Roux, confidence is a massive part of Willemse’s game. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old is enduring a testing time after reports of his salary recently surfaced. Many feel that Willemse’s not worth the nearly R5-million he’s reportedly making at the Stormers per year, leading to coach John Dobson coming out to bat for while admitting that his young star’s struggling with the current situation. The Springboks selectors won’t be too concerned, though; they have great faith in the versatile blue-chipper and will help him navigate the mental hurdles.

Aphelele Fassi (Sharks)

It’s not a matter of if but rather when Fassi will earn his Springboks blazer. He continues to dazzle for the Durban-based Sharks, showcasing the fearless flair that’s earned him the moniker “Weekend Special.” Aside from his lethal attacking abilities, he’s shown signs of a developing tactical kicking game recently and you’d expect him to wear some form of Green and Gold against the Lions, if not for the Boks then for the South African ‘A’ side.

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Warrick Gelant (Stormers)

Gelant hit the ground running when he joined the Stormers but has been out of action since he suffered a torn ACL in a Currie Cup clash against his former team, the Bulls, last December. The specialist fullback’s status is “touch and go” according to Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber, but even if he is to recover in time, the dilemma of getting sufficient game time remains.

The Rest:

While talented in their own right, the likes of David Kriel (Bulls) and EW Viljoen (Lions) are honestly too far down in the pecking order, especially considering seasoned utility backs such as Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) and Bulls-bound Johan Goosen (both featured in part five of the series) can cover fullback if need be.