Springboks nail it in Marseilles. Now the waiting game
Moodie in Marseilles! Springboks nail it against Tonga. Now the waiting game. Photo: X / Springboks

Home » Picking a new-look, ‘next gen’ Springboks backline

Picking a new-look, ‘next gen’ Springboks backline

The Springboks are unlikely to make many changes to their team, but here is what a youthful “next gen” backline could look like.

10-01-24 10:55
Springboks nail it in Marseilles. Now the waiting game
Moodie in Marseilles! Springboks nail it against Tonga. Now the waiting game. Photo: X / Springboks

Notably, the vast majority of the recent Springboks World Cup winning backline players will still be young enough to make it to the next World Cup, but there is also a “next gen” of youthful players who will be able to back them up over the next four year cycle.

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With this in mind, we take a look at what a ‘second tier’ backline could look like to offer youthful and talented alternative options, and it does make for interesting reading.

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Of course, this is entirely hypothetical and unlikely to materialise in its entirety, but when looking at players who are 25 years old or younger, it becomes clearly evident that there is no shortage of talent in South Africa.

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IMPRESSIVE ‘BACK-UP’ AVAILABLE FOR SPRINGBOKS’ BACKLINE

“Next gen” Springboks backline: 9 Jaden Hendrikse (age: 23), 10 Jordan Hendrikse (age: 22), 11 Canan Moodie (age: 21), 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (age: 21), 13 Henco van Wyk (22), 14 Tyrone Green (age: 25), 15 Damian Willemse (age: 25).

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THE BOKS’ HOME TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2024 IS:

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 (venue TBC)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)

Meanwhile, the Springboks’ away Test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August, and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September, as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.

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