Springboks' second-row depth: From famine into feast

JUST under a year ago, South Africa’s Rugby Championship campaign was held together by the unlikeliest of pillars.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

With stalwarts Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, and Lood de Jager sidelined through injuries, it was Ruan Nortjé and Salmaan Moerat who stepped up. Even Pieter-Steph du Toit made the move back to lock after Moerat was out.

Fast forward to mid-2025, and neither Moerat nor Nortjé can secure a spot in the matchday 23.

Such is the embarrassment of riches at lock for the Boks at the moment. With all of the front-line locks back firing, except for the again-injured Kleyn, it isn't easy to see how two of South Africa's most promising young locks will find their way back into the side.

While Rassie Erasmus, Bok head coach, will make a plan to include Nortjé and Moerat, who also stood in as captain, somewhere along the lines, with seven ready and willing players, the rotation policy will be difficult to maintain.