The Springboks could be without the services of key back Damian Willemse for the November internationals after he sustained an injury in the United Rugby Championship (URC) victory over Benetton.
The Stormers continued their unbeaten run in the URC, handing the Italian club a 31-16 defeat in Treviso on Saturday evening, but the result looks to have come at a cost for the Springboks.
This after Willemse, who started the match at inside centre, finished the game on the wing, playing through the pain of a hamstring injury.
Damian Willemse out?
The 27-year-old was instrumental in the Boks’ strong finish to the Rugby Championship campaign, starring in the record win over the All Blacks and started the final two fixtures against Argentina as South Africa defended their title for the first time in their history.
He has subsequently been included in Erasmus’ squad for the November internationals with the Boks playing Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
However, Willemse may well be sidelined for the Boks with Stormers boss John Dobson confirming that he sustained an injury that puts his involvement in the end-of-year tour at risk.
“Damian has probably got a pulled hamstring,” Dobson said after the win that sees the Stormers top the URC table heading into the international break.
“He got moved to the wing, which I thought was very clever from Ruhan [Nel], so that he didn’t have to defend too much. It just sums up the character.
“It has probably put some of his tour at risk. He didn’t want to come off and kept playing for the Stormers, which was very special.”
His absence would create a selection headache for Erasmus and his coaching team, who included Willemse as the only recognised full-back in the touring squad.
This year, Willie le Roux, Aphelele Fassi and Willemse have started in the number 15 jersey for the Springboks; however, Le Roux has been omitted from the squad, while Fassi has been ruled out through an injury he sustained against the All Blacks.
While the severity of Willemse’s injury has not been disclosed just yet, Erasmus will surely be forced into testing his depth at full-back.
Frontrunner: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Willemse’s absence would be a mighty blow to the full-back stocks, but as things stand, Erasmus is spoilt for choice at fly-half, which could result in a positional switch for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The 23-year-old has made no secret of the fact that he prefers the number 10 jersey, and it’s clear that the Bok coaching team agree that position best suits his skill-set.
However, he is more than capable of playing centre and full-back, doing so for the Stormers. Feinberg-Mngomezulu has had cameos at full-back in the Green and Gold jersey off the bench and later in matches, but all of his starts have come in the fly-half position. That could change if Willemse is sidelined, with Erasmus able to turn to Manie Libbok or Handre Pollard in the number 10 jersey.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu started all of the last three Bok Tests in the fly-half role and featured there on his return to the Stormers, but looks to be the leading candidate to fill Willemse’s void.
In the mix: Cheslin Kolbe
If not Feinberg-Mngomezulu, then Cheslin Kolbe looks to be a safe option at the back.
Despite playing much of his club rugby at full-back over the years for the Stormers, Toulouse, Toulon and Suntory Sungoliath, just one of Kolbe’s 46 Test caps for the Springboks has come in the number 15 jersey – against Ireland in 2022.
The double Rugby World Cup winner is quite simply one of the best wingers in the international game, and has been for some time now, which is the only reason why we don’t have him as the frontrunner.
Erasmus might well be reluctant to move his star winger out of his preferred position, where he has more freedom and perhaps has more of an impact.
He does have the skill-set to match the role, though and would be a very safe and sharp selection.
Outside bet: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe, Willie le Roux
Springboks wingers Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe provide two further versatile options to Erasmus, having also played in the position for their club teams. Arendse has done so more for the Bulls and during his stint in Japan with the DynaBoars, but all of his Tests so far have come on the wing.
It’s highly likely that Feinberg-Mngomezulu would be the go-to selection for the bigger matches against France and Ireland if Willemse is sidelined, but the Boks could test their depth against Japan, Wales and Italy.
If not, there is always a chance that Le Roux could earn a recall to the Boks squad after being released for the final fortnight of the Rugby Championship.
It’s plainly obvious that the 36-year-old’s international career is coming to a close, but his form for the Bulls suggests that he still has plenty to offer the Test team if his services are required.
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Wild cards: Quan Horn, Warrick Gelant, Canan Moodie
When Erasmus named his touring squad, none of the players included on the standby list provided options at full-back, but if Le Roux is not the man called as cover for Willemse, then one of Quan Horn or Warrick Gelant could be.
The Bok head coach has repeatedly brought up Horn’s name when discussing the team’s depth despite the 24-year-old boasting just one Test cap to date, against Portugal last year.
He continues not only to be one of the Lions’ top performers, but in the URC too. Horn is superb in all facets of the game and has been rather unfortunate not to get further opportunities in the Test squad, but an injury to Willemse may create that chance for him.
There is also an outside chance that Gelant could earn a recall to the Springboks squad, having played the last of his 11 Tests back in 2022. Despite being a key cog in the Stormers’ backline, Gelant has repeatedly been overlooked by the Boks – possibly because he is prone to soft moments, particularly with ball in hand. The 30-year-old is often guilty of throwing loose passes that opponents usually punish, while his defence isn’t of the highest standard.
A final wild card call could be the selection of Canan Moodie in the position. The 22-year-old has played in the centres and on the wing for the Springboks in his 20 Test caps. However, he does have the skill-set to play full-back, particularly under the high ball and has done so on occasion for the Bulls. The only concern would be his kicking game.
Surely not?: Manie Libbok
Lastly, Libbok is surely the most unlikely option that Erasmus and his staff will turn to. The 28-year-old has played in the number 15 jersey for the Sharks and Bulls during his career, but has never really been considered for the position in the Test set-up, and we don’t expect that to change.
He would almost certainly do a solid job, but with so many other candidates, it would be a real shock to see Libbok line up in the position.