Will This be the Springbok Side in the 2019 World Cup?

South Africa fell just short in this year’s World Cup, and in the third place match they said goodbye to legends like Fourie Du Preez, Bryan Habana, Victor Matfield, Jean De Villiers, Schalk Burger, and in all likelihood we have seen the last of the Du Plessis brothers in the World Cup as well.

This means that the Springboks will be a very different team in 2019, but here is our guess as to who we will see on the field.

Trevor Nyakane:

We will see a tight battle here between Trevor Nyakane and young Thomas Du Toit, and it is hard to know who will come out on top. For now, I’m going with the great experience of Nyakane, who will be a like for like replacement for Tendai Mtawarira.

2. Adriaan Strauss:

With Bismarck Du Plessis out of his way, Strauss will likely have one or two years where the number 2 jersey will be all his own. At 34, the World Cup may be his Swansong, and there is no better way for him to finish than by helping his side win the Webb Ellis Cup.

3. Frans Malherbe:

Malherbe has been breathing down the neck of Jannie Du Plessis for years now, and finally earned his crack in the World Cup. In four years time he will be 28, in the prime of his career, and ready to help lead this Springbok side to glory. A real star to watch here.

4. Eben Etzebeth:

The second row is where South Africa have no end of talent. At 24 years old, Etzebeth has 44 caps for South Africa and brings back shades of Bakkies Botha every time he takes the field. A strong candidate for the captaincy, Etzebeth brings great physicality and athleticism, and he will be a legend by the time the 2019 tournament rolls in.

5. Lood De Jager:

De Jager made a huge impression stepping in for the injured Victor Matfield without any difficulty during the tournament. It would have been expected for the boks to struggle having lost their captain, but De Jager filled the gap without missing a beat and was just as influential at lineout time. This second row pairing will be among the best in the World come 2019.

6. Jaco Kriel:

Kriel exploded into life this season for the Golden Lions, and should he continue to develop, he will be a real star in the next World Cup. He brings pace, vision, and power, and will give the Boks a great weapon with ball in hand. He will be 30 at the time, but you can expect to see him carrying with the same authority as he is now.

7. Marcell Coetzee:

Coetzee made a huge impression for the Springboks when the likes of Francois Louw and Willem Alberts were hurt, and when he gets the chance to play on a regular basis, I suspect we will see him develop into a great weapon for the Boks. A fearsome tackler, Coetzee gives his all in attack and defence, and will be a big leader in this Springbok side.

8. Duane Vermeulen:

Vermeulen will be 34, and his attritional style of play may have taken him out of the game, but if not, I would back Vermeulen to be the captain of this team. He sets a huge physical edge and is a dominant figure in any side. His commitment to his national side is unending, and I think that he can lead this side to the Webb Ellis cup.

9. Rudy Paige:

Paige will be 30 in 2019, but at scrumhalf (which is less physical than many other positions) it’s unlikely he will be on the verge of retirement. He’s likely to face fierce competition from Cobus Reinach, who is around the same age, but I think Paige will just have the edge.

10. Handre Pollard:

Pollard made a statement when he scored two tries to lead the Boks to victory over the All Blacks in 2013. Did I mention he was 20 at the time? Pollard has one of the brightest futures in international rugby, with a knack for attacking the line and putting others away to score. Simply put, Pollard is a great weapon for the Boks, and he will be one of their key players in 2019.

11. Jan Serfontein:

Serfontein looked to be a rising star for the Boks, but he was derailed by injury. Big, smart, and capable of opening a game in many ways. A rare athletic specimen, Serfontein is one player the Boks cannot afford to leave out for much longer.

12. Damian De Allende:

When Jean De Villiers went down against Wales in November 2014, Springbok fans were left reeling. Few could predict Damian De Allende’s meteoric rise. In his first cap for the Boks against the Wallabies, De Allende made a huge impact, leading the charge for a hard fighting Springbok side, cementing his place as South Africa’s number 12 for years to come.

13. Jesse Kriel:

Kriel is the second part of what will probably be the world’s most dominant center pairing. Many questioned the decision to play him at 13, but after his dominance against Australia and the All Blacks, many have begun to hail him as the future. He and Damian De Allende are both young, and will probably be the biggest strength of this Springbok side.

14. JJ Englebrecht:

Powerful and pacey, Englebrecht is one of the most dangerous attacking weapons in South Africa at the moment, and although he will be on the back end of his career, he should definitely be the choice on the right wing for the Boks. His versatility is another plus, as he has experience for the Boks in the center and on the wing. Consistency has been a struggle, but I think that with more playing time Englebrecht may be able to find a rich vein of form.

15. Willie Le Roux:

The Boks creative fullback will be 30 at the World Cup, and it is not unlikely that Le Roux will still be Springboks safety net in 2019. A furious attacking threat, Le Roux always has an air of magic about him when he gets the ball in his hands. There is no end of attacking danger in this backline, but the addition of Le Roux makes it that much more frightening.

This is probably one of the most exciting looking Springbok teams we have seen in the last few years, and I would not be surprised to see them lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan four years from now.