Returning players from injury and suspension widens the pool from which Rassie Erasmus can assemble his Springbok troops for the dual clashes against the All Blacks.
The Boks breezed through Brisbane before things went swimmingly in Perth for the World Champions as they made a fast start to the Rugby Championship over the last two weekends.
Now, however, they face their fiercest rivals, who have a score or two to settle. The All Blacks' last two matches against the Springboks brought them defeats of contrasting frustration, while the visitors' will be desperate to show their opening round Rugby Championship defeat against Argentina was an aberration and not their new normal under head coach Scott Robertson.
The Boks go into the Tests at Ellis Park (August 31) and Cape Town Stadium (September 7) with a recent record they can be proud of. The last time they won four out of six Tests against the All Blacks was across the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Victory at Ellis Park on August 31 will give the Boks their best sequence against their old adversaries since readmission. Five wins from seven Tests would represent a real turnaround from the dominance the All Blacks have exerted over the Boks in the professional era.
For the current sequence to continue, Bok coach Erasmus and company will have to push the right combinations into battle at Ellis Park.
They certainly have the players to inflict more punishment on the All Blacks. In fact, the depth of the talent available to the head coach was on display in Australia — but now Erasmus's options have been widened, with the restoration to fitness of loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff and scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, while No 8 Jasper Wiese and centre André Esterhuizen served bans that precluded their involvement Down Under.
Given what transpired in Australia and an injury and suspension cloud now lifting, Erasmus is spoilt for choice
Kitshoff, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Ulster in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal against Clermont in April, made his return in the colours of Western Province in their Currie Cup defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park last Saturday. Whether he'll see action in a Test against the All Blacks so soon after returning to play is moot — and the same may apply to Hendrikse, who has shown good for upon his return for the Sharks XV in the Currie Cup.
Should the Boks win at Ellis Park, it may again pave the way for the mixing up of resources for the Cape Town clash against New Zealand. Kitshoff and Hendrikse may come into stronger contention, though both players enjoyed elevated status in the Bok match-day 23 last year.
With Faf de Klerk and Herschel Jantjies still injured, Hendrikse's Bok return may be fast-tracked.
Wiese and Esterhuizen must be chomping at the bit. Both served suspensions and must be raring to go, having missed out on the tour to Australia. In Wiese's case, the Ellis Park clash will be his first Test of the year should he get the nod. He copped a six-match ban for a reckless tackle in his last match for Leicester Tigers, which saw him miss the series against Ireland. He will be desperate to regain his status as the Springboks' regular starter in the No 8 jersey.
In his absence Evan Roos wore that jersey against Wales in London and Portugal in Bloemfontein, Kwagga Smith got the nod in Pretoria and Durban against Ireland, while Elrigh Louw got his turn in Brisbane and Perth.
While Roos is now on the mend after going under the knife for a troublesome shoulder, Louw acquitted himself well against the Wallabies. Smith was less effective in the No 8 jersey against the combative Irish and Wiese's return will give Erasmus the opportunity to extend his audit.
In the second row the Boks are a little thin, with Franco Mostert, Lood de Jager and Jean Kleyn still injured. RG Snyman is expected to be fit for the Ellis Park match and Ruan Nortje is able to plug the gap at No 5, but the Boks have called up Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg — who played one Test in 2021 — to the squad. His inclusion will raise eyebrows as Ruben van Heerden was widely expected as the next No 5 under consideration.
Given what transpired in Australia and an injury and suspension cloud now lifting, Erasmus is spoilt for choice.
The Boks have the firepower, they just need decide on the fit-for-purpose ammunition.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.