Andre Esterhuizen is ready to lead from the front as a thrilling new generation of Springboks gets their chance against the Barbarians. Photo: Backpagepix
It was not too long ago that there was genuine concern that the Springboks would battle with a supposed “injury crisis” this season, and that Rassie Erasmus and Co’s player management would be tested with the upcoming Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry on the horizon.
The Boks’ opponents, no doubt, looked on with glee, perhaps seeing a chink in the armour, an exploit to target, a shortcoming to play mental games around in the coming months. Perhaps the one major takeaway from Erasmus’s most recent squad, however, is that South African rugby is indeed in rude health.
The likes of Quan Horn, Riley Norton, Carlu Sadie, Andre-Hugo Venter, JJ Kotze, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen, Ben-Jason Dixon, Paul de Villiers, and Vusi Moyo — with ages spanning from 19 to 29 — are all on the precipice of their Test careers. The SA ‘A’ team who will face the Zimbabwe Sables on Saturday (kick-off 12pm), meanwhile, is jam-packed with Young Turks and seasoned franchise players ready to make the step up into international rugby.
You would have to list that entire team to note the new blood now in the national senior men’s system. That matchday 23 does include exciting prospects such as Luan Giliomee, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Yaqeen Ahmed, Haashim Pead, Bathobele Hlekani, Siba Mahashe and Imad Khan, to name but a few.
