Following Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks selection to face Wales this weekend in their final Test of 2024, we assess the winners and losers.

Winners

Hendrikse brothers

The big winners this weekend are the talented Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse, who both come straight into the starting XV for the clash with Wales. The pair now become the 35th set of brothers to play together for the Springboks, and are also the first set to play with one another since Dan and Robert du Preez in 2018, weirdly also against Wales, but they also both overtake last weekend’s pairing of Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.

Jordan Hendrikse started for the Boks last time they faced Wales in June too, but will be hoping for a better showing this time around alongside his brother. Likewise, Jaden has found himself underneath Williams and Cobus Reinach this year, so this is a good chance to show Erasmus he can be the starting nine.

Ox Nche

Despite being harshly overlooked for a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination, loosehead Ox Nche is also a winner this week as he is deemed fit to play against Wales. He came off in the first-half against England with a ‘deep cut’ around his knee, and Erasmus said he wouldn’t risk him if he thought there was a chance it would open up again, but it has clearly healed enough. Nche is such a crucial part of this Springboks pack in 2024, so it’s fitting he gets one final start to end the year on a high.

Elrigh Louw

He was on the bench last weekend, but he now earns a spot in the starting XV to face Wales. Louw has been solid when called upon for the Boks this year, and this is a good chance for him to prove he should be high up in Erasmus’ thoughts. He does have big boots to fill, deputising for Pieter-Steph du Toit, but he can certainly be a key cog against Wales.

Johann Grobbelaar

Another man who comes straight into the starting XV is Johann Grobbelaar, who returns to Erasmus’ side for the first time since the Rugby Championship. He has been in-and-around the Springboks squad this year but is yet to show he can be a regular feature in the side, so this is a good chance for him to do just that.

Thomas du Toit

The in-form Bath man returns to the side after a week off last time out, and he should once again have a big effect on the game. He was sensational in the Green and Gold jersey against Scotland, and it was arguably the performance he needed to show he can be the starting tighthead with Frans Malherbe out. Du Toit has a brilliant ability to sniff out a try too, and his scrummaging is also fantastic too, so he should be vital against Wales.

Lock pairing

Yet more players slotting into the starting side who weren’t in the 23 at all last weekend are Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert. The World Cup-winning duo will only continue the fine work that Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman did last weekend, and will add their own touches of quality to the pack as well.

Cameron Hanekom

Coming onto the bench for a potential Springboks debut is the impressive Cameron Hanekom, who could easily have been in the opposing sheds if things didn’t pan out with his home nation. Erasmus has said the Bulls man has been ‘training the house down’ in an effort to earn a call-up, and now he has his chance. He also adds plenty of versatility to the back-row too.

Rassie Erasmus

The iconic head coach is once again a huge winner. He has rolled out seven fresh faces into his starting XV and deployed his 51st player of the year in Hanekom, but he still has potentially one of the best teams in the world right now. The Springboks have a wealth of quality in depth, and Erasmus has proved that once again this weekend with his selection, and still leaving the likes of Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am, Du Toit, Wilco Louw and Bongi Mbonambi out of the 23 altogether.

Losers

Manie Libbok

It’s been an inconsistent year for the talented Manie Libbok, who yet again finds himself axed from the squad. There is no denying his talent, but you feel his goal-kicking is a problem he needs to overcome to be a consistent starter in this side. With Hendrikse now seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, as well as Handre Pollard and then add Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu back into the mix when he’s fit, Libbok faces an uphill battle to take back the 10 shirt, despite his obvious quality.

Gerhard Steenkamp

Arguably would have been in pole position to start at loosehead if Nche was deemed a risk, but he once again finds himself on the bench. He’s still in the 23, so he’s not fully a loser, but he might have been expecting to make a start for his side.

Old lock pairing

The aforementioned Etzebeth and Snyman find themselves in the bomb squad this weekend, with Kleyn and Mostert the preferred options. They were both exceptional against England, and look to be a nice unit, so that could have factored into Erasmus’s thinking with putting both of them on the bench to add some beef to the Bomb Squad – not that it needed any more!

Grant Williams

Can feel slightly hard done by to be out of the 23 altogether this weekend, considering he was brilliant against England, but it’s more a sign of the quality of depth in the halves than a point against him. Despite this, he can certainly be happy with his year in the Green and Gold.

Rotation centres

Esterhuizen and Am would arguably start in any other Test side in the world, but yet again they find themselves out of the 23 with Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende starting ahead of them. You felt the pair were in line for a return this weekend, but Erasmus has gone with his strongest partnership instead.

Pieter-Steph du Toit

This is probably to do with the amount of rugby he has played of late, rather than form, but Du Toit will certainly be pleased with his year’s work in the Boks side. He has been immense all year, and is fully deserving of a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination. With that being said, it would have been a nice way to wrap off another superb year.

Bongi Mbonambi

Another one who is probably out of the team due to player load is Mbonambi. Like Du Toit, he should be very happy with his year’s work for the Springboks, as he has yet again proved to be one of the best hookers in the world.

Wilco Louw

His return to the Boks 23 only lasted one week, but he didn’t really do anything wrong in his shift at the Allianz Stadium. He was pretty solid at scrum-time, and fitted into the system well, which is a big compliment considering he hadn’t played a Test since 2021 before it. The Boks are blessed with options at tighthead though, so it was always going to be hard to keep his spot.