Springboks vs Ireland: Squad selection predictions
The Springboks are in a for a massive challenge when they face off against Ireland in July’s Test. This is how we predict they’ll line up.
The Springboks will face a massive challenge in July when they go up against a powerful Ireland side in two Tests that will effectively decide which team should be regarded as the best in the world.
Although the Springboks’ season-opener against Wales in June will require an experimental side to be selected due to the fact it falls outside the international window, that won’t be the case against Ireland.
With all the leading Springbok players available, it will be interesting to see whether coach Rassie Erasmus deviates from the World Cup selections that led to such success in 2023.
THIS IS HOW THE SPRINGBOKS’ BACKLINE COULD LINE UP:
Possible Bok backline: 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Handre Pollard, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15 Damian Willemse.
There won’t be too many surprises in the backline, but of course there will still be great competition for the No 10 jersey from Manie Libbok, while the likes of Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse will want to push Faf de Klerk for a place in the starting lineup.
The rest of the backline almost picks itself, but of course it would be a massive call to continue with Jesse Kriel at 13 rather than Lukhanyo Am. However, Kriel has surely earned this selection after an incredible World Cup campaign.
COULD THE FORWARD PACK LOOK LIKE THIS?
Possible Bok forward pack: 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
The good news for the Springboks is the fact that Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi will have recovered from injury in time for the Tests against Ireland. A big interest of course will revolve around whether Kolisi retains the captaincy now that he is based abroad, but I suspect he will.
Jasper Wiese should now become the incumbent No 8 following the retirement of Duane Vermeulen, while Franco Mostert is likely to retain the No 5 jersey ahead of fit-again Lood de Jager.
The one big selection will be at hooker, where it’s almost impossible to pick between Malcom Marx and Bongi Mbonambi. For the Ireland Tests, though, it’s likely that Mbonambi will be kept in the ‘bomb squad’.
CONFIRMED FIXTURES FOR 2024:
Saturday, 22 June: SA vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (venue TBC)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
16/17 November: England v SA (Twickenham, London – date TBC)