Springboks legend Jean de Villiers believes that there is one position where they are vulnerable looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
Since claiming their second World Cup title in succession in 2023, South Africa have remained the dominant side in the game.<\/p>\n
They sit atop the World Rugby rankings and with just 19 months to go until the next global tournament, the Boks are the favourites to secure an unprecedented three-peat.<\/p>\n
Head coach Rassie Erasmus<\/a> has managed the squad impressively considering the age of the 23 that lifted the Webb Ellis Cup two-and-a-half years ago.<\/p>\n Erasmus\u2019 squad management<\/p>\n The Springboks<\/a> have built incredible depth in most positions and they look well on their way to being in a good shape for the 2027 World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat Rassie has done is that he\u2019s built such a strong squad that if you ask me now, \u2018select the strongest Springbok line-up\u2019, I could go with 15 guys, but if you ask me, \u2018who will play in the World Cup final?\u2019 it will be very different to the one that I name,\u201d De Villiers told The Rugby Pod<\/a> with former internationals Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got some of the ageing guys that might be early to mid-30s, but he\u2019s already got a back-up for them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe incoming youngsters that are on the fringe, they\u2019ve already got maybe 10 Test caps, but by the time you hit the World Cup, you\u2019re on 20 or 25 so you\u2019ve built up that experience.\u201d<\/p>\n There appear to be few weaknesses in their squad but De Villiers was pressed on the player they cannot afford to lose for the next global tournament.<\/p>\n Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu\u2019s name was mentioned given that he has become the first choice fly-half, but the former South Africa captain believes that Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok are outstanding alternatives.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got Sacha but he\u2019s also gone through a bit of a dip in some of the games. You\u2019ve still got Handre and what he has done previously, but you\u2019ve still got Manie Libbok,\u201d De Villiers said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got no doubt whatsoever that Manie Libbok will play a part in this squad going forward because the way that we are attacking currently and the shape that they are running, no one does it better than Manie.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way that we are able to cut up defences, Manie can play a massive role in that.\u201d<\/p>\n