The Springbok squad for the final leg of the Nations Championship will be named this week, with the group scheduled to face Italy, France and Ireland as they bid to qualify for the final on 29 November.
With that in mind, we’ve selected some local players who could be in line for a Test debut this month.
Riley Norton (Stormers)
Norton turned out for the Boks against the Barbarians in Nelson Mandela Bay on 20 June but was frustratingly robbed of a Test cap in the first leg of the Nations Championship after picking up a grade 3 hamstring injury nine days later.
Having featured prominently for the Stormers already this season, the second rower is perhaps the player on this list most likely to be called up for the November Tests. Eben Etzebeth’s involvement is up in the air, potentially leaving room for the 20-year-old to make his first appearance against Italy, France or Ireland.
Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Siyaya has been electric since debuting in the URC towards the backend of last season and forms part of the rest of the SA U20 contingent named here seemingly poised to carry the torch in the next World Cup cycle.
The utility back was picked for the SA ‘A’ against Zimbabwe earlier this year but is yet to have his first taste of Test rugby. Although the Bok back three stocks are stacked at the moment, Rassie Erasmus may decide that the time is now for the 19-year-old, who’s cemented himself as a regular for his club side.
Luan Giliomee (Bulls)
Giliomee started the season in the colours of the Hollywoodbets Sharks but recently made the transition to Loftus Versfeld where he’s been settling in after debuting earlier this month. The utility back is one of the most talented youngsters in the SA game at the moment and it’s really a case of when rather than if he’ll crack the nod at the highest level.
Although Erasmus is unlikely to select too many newcomers for the matches against France and Ireland, there may be opportunities for players like Giliomee to feature against Italy in the first tour game next week.
Esethu Mnebelele (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Injuries to Stormers duo Deon Fourie and Andre-Hugo Venter could necessitate the call-up of 20-year-old Hollywoodbets Sharks hooker Mnebelele. Despite having turned out just a handful of times for his club this season, mostly off the bench, KES Old Boy has showed promising signs whenever given an opportunity, and his selection wouldn’t be the first time Erasmus has opted to include relative pro rugby newcomers in his squads.
Another member of the Baby Boks’ successful U20 Junior World Cup campaign last year, the burgeoning young talent captained the team to back-to-back titles in Georgia in July and would benefit enormously from the experience of a tour up north with the senior side.
Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls)
A name long on the Bok coach’s lips, injury has prevented de Klerk from taking up the green and gold on more than one occasion in the past, but this month could finally be his chance. The 26-year-old flyer has come up with clutch moments time and again for the Bulls and there is arguably no other player on this list more deserving of a Test debut.
De Klerk’s physicality and aerial ability would make him a shoo-in for most other nations, but given the calibre of wingers in South Africa, he’s had to bide his time. Perhaps no longer.
Cheswill Jooste (Bulls)
The SA U20 world champion has been in ridiculous form for the Bulls this season, scoring a Champions Cup hattrick against Stade Français and putting himself firmly into the national conversation. At 80kg and standing at 1.75m, Jooste is less a JP Pietersen-type winger and more in the mould of the diminutive Cheslin Kolbe-esque speedsters Erasmus is so fond of.
Having already attended a Bok alignment camp earlier this year, Jooste would have fancied his chances to appear on the end-of-year tour if not for his recent concussion and broken jaw, which may unfortunately rule him out of contention for now. Cruel timing, but he’ll be back.
