Springboks’ final team of 2017 is arguably its weirdest too

If the Springboks manage to win their final Test of 2017 against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, this match squad will definitely be remembered as the “what-if” one.

Of course, this is only a team on paper that hasn’t played but it’s hard not to be left with that feeling.

Belatedly, coach Allister Coetzee has chosen players many felt should’ve been given a chance earlier on this tour.

Warrick Gelant stands out in this regard.

Following a promising cameo against Italy last weekend, the exciting 22-year-old Bulls fullback will make his run-on debut.

Gelant’s superb running skills is exactly the type of unpredictability this backline requires.

But should he be starting on the wing?

That’s a matter of debate given that he clearly enjoyed the extra space in the No 15 jersey in the latter stages of Super Rugby and the Currie Cup.

Yet Coetzee has pretty much been forced to pick Gelant out of position because he probably couldn’t drop Andries Coetzee.

Dropping the Lions fullback would’ve meant having to either keep the out-of-form Courtnall Skosan or picking Raymond Rhule, who still hasn’t addressed concerns over his defence.

That’s how poorly this tour squad has actually assembled.

Another youngster, Dan du Preez, will also make his starting debut at No 8.

It seems that the Bok coaching staff finally seem sold on the importance of picking a specialist at the back of the scrum.

The Sharks enforcer wasn’t selected against Ireland – when Duane Vermeulen still hadn’t been called up – because he hadn’t played a Test yet.

So the Boks picked Francois Louw out of position and got hammered at the breakdowns.

Now there’s suddenly enough faith in Du Preez, despite the fact that he’s still actually only played 14 minutes of Test rugby.

Weird, weird, weird.

Du Preez’s teammate at the Sharks, Lukhanyo Am also belatedly gets a nod to play off the bench.

His bonus ability of being a poacher at the breakdown is welcome given that the loose trio doesn’t feature a fetcher.

But will Am be able to do that late in the second half?

However, nothing beats the treatment of poor Rudy Paige.

The little Bulls scrumhalf make a visible impact against Italy after replacing Ross Cronje.

Yet, instead of at least keeping his place among the replacements, he’s been dropped in favour of Louis Schreuder.

Paige should’ve actually made a case for a starting berth.

Now he’s carrying tackling bags while Cronje continues to be given lives he probably doesn’t deserve.

Springboks: Andries Coetzee, Dillyn Leyds, Jesse Kriel, Francois Venter, Warrick Gelant, Handre Pollard, Ross Cronje, Dan du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff. Bench: Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, Ruan Dreyer, Oupa Mohoje, Uzair Cassiem, Louis Schreuder, Elton Jantjies, Lukhanyo Am.

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