JON CARDINELLI looks at the backline players used by the Springboks since 2018 and why Rassie Erasmus faces a healthy selection headache ahead of the World Cup squad announcement.

Erasmus will announce his World Cup squad in Johannesburg next Monday. Thirty-one players will travel to Japan next month. The other five players in the current squad– and perhaps a few more – will be shortlisted to travel to the World Cup in the event of a serious injury.

Last week, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander declared himself satisfied that the team had realised its transfomation goals. A look at the results, as well as Erasmus’ drive to develop a wider squad, suggests that the coach has ticked two other significant boxes in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup.

The Boks were ranked seventh in the world when Erasmus took over as head coach in early 2018. Since then, they’ve won 10 out of 18 Tests, claimed their first Rugby Championship title in 10 years and – as of Monday – climbed up to fourth in the World Rugby rankings.

But as the announcement of the 31-man squad looms, it’s interesting to note how many players have featured over the past two seasons – a total of 58 players have been used across 18 Tests.

JON CARDINELLI’S WORLD CUP SQUAD

Four fullbacks, seven wing options, six centres, three flyhalves and five scrumhalves were used in the back division. Six hookers, nine props, and seven locks were used up front, and as many as 13 players featured in the back row.

Erasmus may still have some questions in certain positions, which is to be expected. Eddie Jones has had four years to find solutions for England, while Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland have been at the helm of the All Blacks and Wales for even longer. Erasmus, however, has had two years to spread his net.

That said, the strategy has yielded some significant returns and Erasmus should be lauded for his bold approach.

Erasmus has backed the youngsters. As many as 23 players have made their Test debuts since the game against Wales in the USA last June.

The coach has moved to revive the international careers of several prominent players with the aim of boosting the Boks’ World Cup chances. Would another coach have brought Willie le Roux, Faf de Klerk, Frans Steyn, Cobus Reinach, Marcell Coetzee, Vincent Koch and Schalk Brits back into the mix?

Erasmus hasn’t been afraid to experiment with different combinations. He’s also tried to develop the leadership group with a view to the tournament in Japan.

While he’s been clear that Siya Kolisi is the official captain, the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Schalk Brits have all had opportunities to lead over the past two seasons.

The Boks are still thin in a few positions. It may be a year or two yet before they boast quality in depth across the board.

But as seen by the positional breakdowns below, they are reasonably well placed ahead of the 2019 World Cup, and Erasmus deserves due credit for implementing a plan and sticking to it.

FULLBACKS	TESTS	STARTS	RWC SELECTION
CURWIN BOSCH	1	1	UNLIKELY
WARRICK GELANT	5	3	SHORTLIST
WILLIE LE ROUX	14	13	LIKELY
DAMIAN WILLEMSE	5	1	SHORTLIST

Willie le Roux will travel to the World Cup as the Boks’ first-choice fullback. It remains to be seen if Erasmus will take another specialist such as Warrick Gelant, or if he will rely on versatile players such as Cheslin Kolbe and Frans Steyn to provide cover.

Damian Willemse would have been the ideal candidate to cover No 10 and 15 in Japan – having played this role for the Boks in 2018. Willemse recently made his return to rugby after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and Erasmus remains doubtful that the talented youngster will be match fit for the World Cup.

WINGS	TESTS	STARTS	RWC SELECTION
TRAVIS ISMAIEL	1	1	UNLIKELY
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI	7	7	LIKELY
SBU NKOSI	8	8	CONFIRMED
APHIWE DYANTYI	13	13	INJURED
CHESLIN KOLBE	9	5	LIKELY
JESSE KRIEL	1	1	LIKELY
DILLYN LEYDS	1	1	SHORTLIST

Five of the seven wing options listed above did not feature at Test level prior to the 2018 season. Aphiwe Dyantyi made an impression in his debut season and was later named World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year. The elusive player could miss out on World Cup squad selection, though, due to a leg injury.

Fortunately, Erasmus has developed a few outstanding atlernatives. Erasmus and backline coach Mzwandile Stick recently described Makazole Mapimpi as the best finisher in South Africa – although Sbu Nkosi certainly showed his prowess in this department last Saturday.

Cheslin Kolbe had an outstanding season for Top 14 winners Toulouse and was impressive on the recent Rugby Championship tour.

CENTRES	TESTS	STARTS	RWC SELECTION
JESSE KRIEL	11	9	LIKELY
ANDRE ESTERHUIZEN	8	7	SHORTLIST
LUKHANYO AM	7	7	LIKELY
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE	11	11	LIKELY
LIONEL MAPOE	2	0	UNLIKELY
FRANS STEYN	4	0	LIKELY

Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am have built up some steam as the first-choice midfield combination. Jesse Kriel has been in outstanding form this season and Frans Steyn recently showed why he will be an asset to the Boks at the World Cup.

Andre Esterhuizen may provide a physical alternative in the event of injury. And if there is a big crisis at No 12, Montpellier centre Jan Serfontein – who Erasmus sounded out last year about a possible return to the team – is only a phone call away.

FLYHALVES	TESTS	STARTS	RWC SELECTION
ELTON JANTJIES	12	5	LIKELY
ROBERT DU PREEZ	1	0	UNLIKELY
HANDRE POLLARD	15	13	LIKELY

Handre Pollard has looked every bit the general in recent seasons. The Boks could be in trouble if he breaks down at the World Cup tournament.

Elton Jantjies has been in good goal-kicking form of late, and his attacking prowess is well documented. To be fair, Jantjies doesn’t offer the same defensive solidity as Pollard and the Boks may be exposed if the Lions man has to line up at No 10 in the big games.

If both break down, Erasmus may have to ask Frans Steyn to slot in at No 10. Steyn began his career at flyhalf, but has featured more at fullback and centre in recent years.

SCRUMHALVES	TESTS	STARTS	RWC SELECTION
IVAN VAN ZYL	6	2	UNLIKELY
EMBROSE PAPIER	7	2	UNLIKELY
FAF DE KLERK	13	12	CONFIRMED
HERSCHEL JANTJIES	3	1	CONFIRMED
COBUS REINACH	2	1	CONFIRMED

This was the big question in the buildup to the 2018 season: who will start at scrumhalf for the Boks?

Faf de Klerk was snubbed by the Boks in 2017, and his Test career appeared to be over when he left South Africa to further his career at the Sale Sharks. Back then, the Boks were relying on the likes of Ross Cronje, Francois Hougaard and Louis Schreuder at scrumhalf.

Everything changed, however, when Erasmus came to power. De Klerk was reinstated, and two rookies in Ivan van Zyl and Embrose Papier were given an opportunity to shine. By the end of the season, the Boks had found one No 9 if not three.

In 2019, Erasmus followed through with his plan to bring Cobus Reinach back into the mix after a four-year hiatus. Herschel Jantjies forced a revision of the pecking order, though, when he produced a couple of sparkling performances against Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

The Boks travelled to the 2015 World Cup with two scrumhalves boasting extensive experience. Fourie du Preez as well as Ruan Pienaar featured at the previous two tournaments – including the successful campaign in 2007.

This time around, the Boks will head to the global tournament with three World Cup rookies. The Boks will hope that De Klerk (24 Test caps) is available for the big matches.

While Jantjies and Reinach will offer exciting alternatives, the former is competing in his first season of Test rugby while the latter hasn’t been with the group for long – and did not feature at all for the Boks between 2016 and 2018.

ERASMUS’ MOST USED BACKS*
9 Faf de Klerk
10 Handre Pollard
11 Aphiwe Dyantyi
12 Damian de Allende
13 Jesse Kriel
14 Sbu Nkosi
15 Willie le Roux

*According to Test starts over 18 games in 2018 and 2019

Look out for Part 2 on Tuesday where we take a closer look at the Bok forwards that have been used and developed over the past two seasons.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images