Why the Springboks 10, 12 and 13 axis is bigger than Saturday’s result
Bigger than a result on Saturday in Wellington will be the electricity at who has been picked at 10, 12 and 13 for the Springboks, writes Mark Keohane.
This season it has become obvious that the back to back World Cup winning Springboks are a squad in transition. Who of the old guard leaves gracefully, who gets butchered and which of the new guard, respectfully slots in for the 2026 Great Rivalry Home Series against the All Blacks in 2026 and the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
This season has been a reminder that time is the greatest opponent in every aspect of the game and life, and time never loses.
Times has no mercy or empathy or sympathy.
Time just calls time.
After the eight year journey, from Number Seven in the World to Number One, back to back World Cup winners, a British & Irish Lions series win in 2021 and the Rugby Championship title in 2024, those originals are exhausted as a group, fatigued and seemingly done.
Individually, many can move on, but as collective the best is in the past tense.
Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel are the most decorated 10.12 and 13 backline axis in the history of Springboks rugby. Lukyano Am had 18 glorious months at No 13 and there have been a few big time cameos at No 10, outside of Pollard.
Individually, all three may still be there in 2027, but collectively it is doubtful that would be the starting 10, 12 and 13 for a 2027 World Cup play-off.
Instead, Rassie Erasmus has picked a 10, 12 and and 13 combination that could be electric in 2027 and, if not, at full tilt at the 2031 World Cup in the United States of America.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a generational player. He has it all. He is the No 10.
Damian Willemse is a generational player and the youngest player in the history of the game to win two World Cup titles. He has it all. He is the No 12.
Canan Moodie is another generational player and he has been electric on either wing for the Boks and sublime in the No 13 jersey. He plays No 13 on Saturday.
The trio have never played together for the Boks at 10, 12 and 13. The trio are all born and bred in the Western Cape and all three attended three of the most famous schools, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu from Bishops, Willemse from Paul Roos and Moodie from Boland Landbou (Agriculture).
Their comfort on one wing is another Capetonian, Kraaifontein’s Brackenfell High Cheslin Kolbe.
Inside of then is a veteran going to the Stormers in Cobus Reinach and another from the rich rugby town of Paarl in Grant Williams (Paarl Gimnasium).
Nos 10, 12 and 13 are effective if the pack is effective and Erasmus has picked a starting eight full of World Cup winners and a forwards bench of potential and World Cup-winning pedigree.
I don’t for a moment doubt the capability of Pollard, De Allende and Kriel in the next 24 months, but finally the next trio has been entrusted to start a Test against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
If they compete and thrive, they will never have a tougher assignment in their careers.
What they also need is to be backed to play together as a trio in more than the occasional Test.
Erasmus has selected an exciting match 23, but he has also picked one that either wins the Test or could fold and lose by 20.
Whatever the outcome he needs to play these guys more and he needs to play these combinations more.
Of all the combinations for Saturday, nothing is more exciting than the 10, 12 and 13 he has picked. Add Kolbe, newbie Ethan Hooker on the wing and Aphelele Fassi at fullback and you could be looking at the core of the next wave of Bok backline brilliance.
Bear in mind Kurt-Lee Arendse, Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mampimpi are stilll around, I am talking 2027 and beyond.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is 23 years old, Willemse just turned 27 and Moodie is 22 year-old.
They have played 65 Tests combined, with Willemse the most experienced and all three have beaten the All Blacks.
Keo on Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
You May Also Like
