Finally the Boks are back – and what a few months lie ahead

Don’t be surprised if rugby overtakes Covid as the most topical talking point in the next few weeks.

While every citizen should stay aware of the virus threat, the announcement of the Springbok squad on Saturday evening has gripped the country like we haven’t experienced in the last 18 months.

National Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus and Bok coach Jacque Nienaber will name a 45-man squad for the international season which includes three Tests against the British and Irish Lions.

The Boks haven’t been in action since that famous win in the World Cup final of 2019, and they face a very busy schedule which will run deep into November.

First off, history will be made with the Boks playing two Test against Georgia on consecutive Friday evenings in early July and then the world champions will play three Tests in the series against the Lions.

Following that, the Boks will be involved in a six-match schedule in the Rugby Championship, which will include four Tests away from home and only two on home soil.

A few weeks off will then follow before the Boks end their busy year with three Test matches on their end-of-year tour to Europe.

After not being in action for more than 18 months, the Boks will now play 14 Tests in the space of just five months.
But who’s complaining?

The big squad set to be named on Saturday was specifically designed for the busy period over the next few months and to include players set to play for the South Africa A side against the visiting Lions – the team to be also coached by Nienaber and Erasmus.

Only after that SA A game will the squad be trimmed to 36 or 37 players which will be the same number that the touring Lions will bring with them to the republic.

One can therefore expect that Nienaber and Erasmus will look at the make-up of the squad a little differently to normal, with players selected who can cover more than one position.

Here one think of flank Pieter-Steph du Toit who can also play lock, centre Frans Steyn who can cover flyhalf, centre and fullback, and Johan Goosen who could cover the same three positions.

After taking over from Erasmus not long after the World Cup triumph, Nienaber will finally make his debut as Bok coach and for him the long wait is finally over.

There’s certainly excitement in the air; the Boks are back, and thankfully so.