SA Rugby magazine takes a look at five players who have only represented the Springboks once, but might do so again in the future.
READ: Bok heavyweight returns for Lions
Ox Nche
Springbok Number: 893
Debut: 2 June, 2018
Retshegofaditswe Nche, known better by his moniker ‘Ox’, made his debut against Wales in Rassie Erasmus’ first game in charge of the Springboks. It was a turgid affair in Washington DC where an inexperienced Bok side were narrowly beaten in challenging conditions.
Nche has had to bide his time with Steven Kitshoff and Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira the preferred Springbok loosehead props. However, with Beast’s retirement comes the opportunity for Nche to re-stake his claim. His superb domestic form means he could well add to his Bok caps against the British and Irish Lions this year.
Jason Jenkins
Springbok Number: 894
Debut: 2 June, 2018
Jason Jenkins another of the startling 12 debutants to earn their first cap for South Africa against Wales in Washington. The big Bulls lock was only 22 years old when he got his national call-up and joined captain Pieter-Steph du Toit in the second row.
Jenkins was in fantastic form for the Bulls earlier this year before making the move to Japan and eventually Munster. He will hope that his abrasive style of play and ability to cover both lock and blindside flanker will catch the eye of the Springbok selectors and earn him a national recall.
Rohan Janse van Rensburg
Springbok Number: 880
Debut: 26 November, 2016
Rohan Janse van Rensburg earned his only cap for South Africa against Wales on the 2016 end of year tour. Janse van Rensburg was one of the most exciting backline prospects in South Africa at the time and had been terrorising defences in a golden era of Lions rugby.
The wrecking ball centre made the move to Premiership club Sale where he has been plying his trade since 2018. Though injury has hampered him, he remains as destructive as ever and will not have given up his dreams of playing for the Boks again.
Rob du Preez
Springbok Number: 904
Debut: 2 June, 2018
Flyhalf Robert du Preez joined his two brothers Dan and Jean-Luc as a capped Springbok when he came from the bench to face Wales in 2018. Though Du Preez was a promising but inconsistent player at the Sharks, he has benefitted from a change of environment since his move to Sale.
Rob du Preez is a far better player today than he was when he left South Africa. He has expanded his game so that he is now a competent centre as well as flyhalf option. South Africa’s competition in the midfield and at 10 is intense but there could be an opportunity later down the line for Du Preez.
Scarra Ntubeni
Springbok Number: 915
Debut: 17 August 2019
Despite having toured with the Bok squad in as early as 2013, it took until 2019 for Scarra Ntubeni to finally win his first Bok cap. He did so against Argentina in what is today still the most recent game of international rugby played in South Africa.
The Stormers hooker has been a permanent and reliable fixture in South Africa’s domestic rugby scene. Though Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx are the favoured Springbok hookers, Ntubeni isn’t too far off being in contention. There are plenty of youthful hookers eager to pursue their Springbok aspirations, but there could yet be a final swan song for the veteran Ntubeni.
