Coach Rassie Erasmus is prepared to pick from the Springbok carcass left by his predecessor Allister Coetzee, but expect him to nitpick along the way.
Erasmus, who this week became the 14th man and first former Bok captain to be appointed to the position since readmission, said: "It will be tough to say we are going to move forward with that team. Not because the players are poor. I say let's start with a clean slate."
As much as the feel-good factor needs to be restored urgently, Erasmus has already set his sights on next year's World Cup.
"Of course it is important to beat Wales and England now, but we also have to start thinking of the World Cup," before he too underlined the virtues of versatility and experience in assembling a World Cup squad.
"Who, for instance, will be the third nine and can cover other positions? Who will be the prop covering both sides?
"It is probably one of the reasons we are talking to guys abroad who are playing 10, 12 and 15. Of course there are fantastic young 10s coming through locally. If we are asking who's our 10s we also need to ask what other positions can they cover?" Frans Steyn and Pat Lambie must be on high alert.
NOT DRESSED TO THE NINES
Erasmus will almost certainly rope in a foreign-based scrumhalf. Ruan Pienaar and Francois Hougaard meet his criteria, while Cobus Reinach and Faf de Klerk provide livewire alternatives. "We are thin at No9 in terms of a player with 40 test matches. That's why we are looking abroad. We will be foolish to say we won't go to the World Cup without an established No9 and 10."Erasmus will ask for SA Rugby to revisit a policy that precludes foreign-based players with less than 30 tests to play for the Springboks. "If you are going to look at players earmarked to play in the World Cup I will have to look at them this year already.
"That said, it will be stupid to select players based abroad who are on the same level as players playing here."
HE IS THE ONE
Erasmus used Steven Kitshoff as a benchmark for any loosehead hoping to break into the team. "If a guy like Thomas du Toit can reach that work rate then it is going to be tough for a man of 135kg. It is up to him and his coach to determine what is his best fit for the Sharks," he said about a player who props down either side of the front row.
Erasmus believes part of Springbok rugby's restoration lies in its traditional strengths. "We must retain that physical element to our game. I know people say that's our weak spot but let's keep that element while accentuating the finer points."
Erasmus, who will also walk the transformation tightrope, agreed that the Super Rugby coaches haven't embraced the challenge. "The guys are failing. The last thing I want to do is tell the coaches 'you do this, you do that'. You'll never have a working relationship. The challenge isn't finding the talent. I'm hoping the players get enough game time so that they can get to Springbok level."
In Warren Whiteley, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi he has three candidates for the captaincy. He knows what he doesn't want. "People often say we must make the nation proud and that rugby should unite and be a beacon of hope. That's true but it only applies when you are playing well and winning. The captain has to understand that we have to work exceptionally hard, we must be desperate to win. If he has that emotional intelligence and spreads that around the team I think he will be a good fit."..