Springboks on the lookout for their lucky No 8

Jasper Wiese's four-match suspension has left the Springboks with a potential head-scratcher ahead of their two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia, as well as their crunch clash against New Zealand in Auckland next month.

Though two of the United Rugby Championships' (URC) form loose forwards, Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw, are on the long-term injury list, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus assured he as all the bases covered. Erasmus may be scratching his head but not because he is devoid of options.

“There are different guys with different skill sets,” he said. “Given what we think we will face against Australia we feel we are covered with the players we have in the group currently with Kwagga [Smith] being able to play there and Marco [van Staden] being able to play there, as well as Cobus [Wiese] able to play there.”

He also mentioned the barnstorming Evan Roos, suggesting all is good in his relationship with a player who has played eight Tests since making his debut in 2022. He said Roos will get game time in the Currie Cup.

“He knows what he must work on,” Erasmus said.

“It is lekker [nice] to have that depth. We have three guys we will probably play in the Australia Tests, while Evan might come into the mix a bit later.”

Captain Siya Kolisi served the Sharks mostly well when he did duty in that position in the URC, but he believes he is very much on the periphery as a No 8 option for the Boks.

Smith has been a back row warrior for the Boks, especially off the bench. The energetic loose forward starting in that position has yielded mixed results for the Springboks. In his 53 Tests he has started as eighthman on only six occasions.

At least five of them were against redoubtable opposition. He played in that position in the first Test against the British & Irish Lions in 2021. The Boks went one-nil down in that series at final whistle. He was used off the bench for the remainder of the series as (Jasper) Wiese was thrust into the cauldron very early in his Test career.

When the Boks clashed with France in Marseille in 2022 the visitors came up short in a match of bone rattling intensity. It did however turn out to be a really helpful dress rehearsal for their battle in the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup a year later.

Smith started at No 8 in last year's drawn series against Ireland. The Boks lost the first Test but bounced back in the second to draw the series.

The tireless terrier was again used in the run-on XV when the Boks beat Scotland in Edinburgh on their end-of-year tour.

Smith is clearly most effective when he is summoned to action off the substitutes' bench. Of his 33 matches off the bench the Boks have lost only five.

In his 27 Tests Van Staden has also been an infrequent starter. He started just eight Tests, none at No8.

Like Smith however, he too is a remarkably resourceful player with the ability to seamlessly slot into different positions.

The composition of the Bok back row is largely dependent on the presence of Pieter-Steph du Toit. His speed, the head coach explained, enables the Boks to play a less athletic No8 but in Smith and Van Staden his team has players who also covers ground rapidly.

With Wiese only eligible for selection for the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington, the Bok back row may have a makeshift look but not short of players prepared to put in a shift.