There will be great expectations when the Springboks return to action with back-to-back Tests against Ireland in July, followed by a one-off encounter against Portugal prior to the Rugby Championship.
Especially for that Test against Portugal, some new faces can be expected in the Bok squad, and these are three domestic players we believe are well on track to receive a first-time call up.
KNOCKING ON THE SPRINGBOKS’ DOOR
Lions star Sanele Nohamba is in the form of his life, and his performances will be catching the eye of the Springbok coaches
Nohamba, a product of Alice in the Eastern Cape, burst onto the senior rugby scene as a nippy scrumhalf blessed with a powerful kicking game.
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Weighing in around 75kg and standing just 1.64m tall, Nohamba’s physical frame seemed well suited to scrumhalf, where he played throughout school and junior level.
However, the 25-year-old (who celebrated his birthday earlier in January), has interestingly made the transition to flyhalf this season, and it’s reaped incredible rewards.
Nohamba has been one of the standout players in South Africa, providing a real spark for the Lions at 10. He has also impressed with his accurate goal-kicking that has always been a hallmark of his game.
There is little doubt that Nohamba may be catching the eye of the Springbok coaches after displaying such consistency and confidence. But the question is, where would the Springbok coaches accommodate him?
It would be a massive call for the Springbok management team to view Nohamba as a Test flyhalf after only recently making a permanent move into this position. His size may well be an issue for highly physical Test matches as well.
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The national coaches may be interested in utilising him as a scrumhalf, though, especially after a recent serious injury to Faf de Klerk. However, the likes of Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach were all part of the World Cup squad, and scrumhalf is certainly a position that’s well covered.
Having said that, the Springbok coaches may view his X factor and ability to cover more than one position as a notable drawcard.
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At the Stormers, Hacjivah Dayimani is blessed with an abundance of talent, and there is a sense that this is really the season when the 26-year-old could throw his name into the Bok ring.
With immense mobility and plenty of soft skills, Dayimani could really come into the national reckoning if he brings sturdy defence, increased physicality and high work rate to the mix.
The talented forward has the ability to play across the back row, and the Bok coaches may soon want to see first-hand what he can offer, especially if he continues to make a consistent impact – as he has been at the start of this season in the URC and Europe.
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At a time when Frans Malherbe is out of action, tighthead prop Neethling Fouche has stepped up for the Stormers and made a massive impact, which certainly seems to be bringing him onto the Springbok radar.
Fouche is a true attacking scrummager, and his power and mobility may well be catching the eye of the Bok coaches – especially at a time when Vincent Koch is also recovering from injury.
“It’s a dream for many players to one day play for the Stormers, but Nettas (Fouche) is extremely passionate about it,” Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwani recently told the media.
“He works very hard, wants to constantly improve and I think he has put his hand up. He is a warrior and I think he can fit comfortably into the national setup thanks to his work ethic.
“I think they [the Springboks] should open the door for him, at least for the alignment camps so they can get a look at whether he will fit in that environment. I believe he will.”
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THE BOKS’ HOME TEST SCHEDULE FOR 2024 IS:
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs. Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs. Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: SA vs. Portugal (Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 31 August: SA vs. New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA vs. New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 28 September: SA vs. Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
Meanwhile, the Springboks’ away Test schedule includes two matches against the Wallabies in Australia in August, and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September, as well as engagements in Europe in November 2024.
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