Rassie Erasmus says the Springboks are “thin at lock” less than two years out from the World Cup.
The Boks are the envy of world rugby with their huge player pool, but Erasmus believes the second row is an area of concern when age profile and experience may count against the back-to-back world champions.
In Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager, the Boks have world-class operators, yet all three are into their 30s. RG Snyman, now 31, is based in the northern hemisphere, limiting his availability for certain alignment camps and training windows.
Below them, Salmaan Moerat and Ruan Nortje are still relatively light on Test caps, while Jean Kleyn is also over 30.
“My honest opinion is that we are thin at lock if you look at our depth, age bracket and number of caps,” Erasmus said. “Ruan and Salmaan are the settled, average-aged guys. If you compare that to flyhalf, we feel relatively safe there.”
ALSO: Rassie & Co defend aerial contest against critics
Toulon lock David Ribbans, who represented England at the 2023 World Cup, has been discussed internally, although Erasmus admitted the practicality of such a move is not always straightforward.
“We don’t want to block players’ futures just to cap them,” Erasmus said, pointing to centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg as an example of a player allowed to pursue international opportunities elsewhere.
However, one overseas-based lock firmly on the Bok radar is JJ van der Mescht. The 27-year-old, who plies his trade in Europe, offers size and power, but Erasmus stressed that timing and cultural integration are key considerations.
“JJ is a monster of a guy, about 150kg,” Erasmus said. “The question is whether we’ll have enough hands-on time with him before the World Cup to get him into our culture and shape.”
RASSIE: Boks must be ‘ballsy’ in brutal Test year
Erasmus added that lockdown had disrupted the junior pipeline, particularly at lock, and that South Africa may have to make “big calls” as part of their long-term succession planning.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Rassie eyes new lock options appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.