The Springboks finished up their final match of the southern hemisphere season with a disappointing 42-38 loss to the Wallabies.
After making 13 changes to the starting XV, the Boks produced a somewhat disjointed performance in a chaotic outing. Here we look at the key lessons learnt from that match.
The captaincy debacle
Andre Esterhuizen was selected as the 68th Bok captain, a pick that quickly became controversial after an incident involving a racial slur from 14 years ago resurfaced. The outrage is justified.
Firstly, the country continues to battle with racism across all strata of its political and economic divide, and secondly, the Bok captaincy should be held to a higher morale standard than the rest of the nation.
SA Rugby did themselves no favours by shutting down any questions relating to the Esterhuizen selections in the lead up to the match when a more forthright and honest conversation about the pick would have been a much healthier approach. Transparency is a better strategy than ignoring legitimate concern.
With that said, people can change. Worldviews and personal ideologies are pliable. This may well be true of Esterhuizen, who was a young man at the time of the incident. However, by attempting to enforce silence, SA Rugby allowed opposing views to harden into divisive arguments rather than encouraging a genuine resolution.
It is not a good look for a game that still grapples with its history in this country and which has made huge strides in rectifying those inequalities over the last 30 years, especially in the last decade. The issue highlights a recurring truth: complex situations rarely yield simple answers, and managing past mistakes requires open leadership rather than silence.
The best No 9 out of 10
The Boks have an embarrassment of riches at scrumhalf and have used this season as a laboratory for the position. Embrose Papier, Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach, Herschel Jantjies and Morne van den Berg were used during the Nations Championship, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and the Tests against Argentina and Australia.
Double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk, and Jaden Hendrikse, meanwhile, were sidelined due to injury and fitness concerns. Looking further down the line, an argument can be made that emerging talents like Haashim Pead and Imad Khan deserve a look in the near future.
A year ago, the pecking order was clear in the No 9 jumper. But after this recent stretch of matches, the tide has shifted in favour of Van den Berg. Every time Krappie has been selected, he has been a genuine game-changer — which was evident when he replaced Jantjies in the 48th minute against the Wallabies.
With upcoming November fixtures against Italy, France, and Ireland, the Lions halfback deserves every opportunity to lock down the starting spot with maximum playing time.
The full-back conundrum
If we are brutally honest with one another, Aphelele Fassi has not been at his best during this international season for the Boks. There have been flashes of brilliance, no doubt—exhilarating moments that offer a window into what makes the 28-year-old special. Unfortunately, we simply haven't seen enough of them.
It is clear now that Damian Willemse remains the undisputed first choice, which creates a slight concern from a depth perspective. Yes, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu can slot into the position, as can a fit Cheslin Kolbe but with Fassi’s form middling, who else is there?
Quan Horn has had scant opportunity to express himself in the green and gold in his preferred position, and got lost in the chaos of the final quarter of the Australian defeat.
It is arguably the one position, along with hooker, that there is a serious concern regarding specialised depth. Fassi is off to Japan and perhaps he can reinvigorate his game there.
The return of the jackal
Of course, it’s not all doom. and gloom … after all, the Boks have lost only two matches out of 10, and their victories have shown immense mental fortitude and resilience.
One player who has really made the step up to international rugby is Paul de Villiers. The 23-year-old was thrown into the deep end for his Test debut against England and has only grown in stature since. He made a handful of crucial breakdown interventions during the loss to the Wallabies.
Another player who deserves more game time is Cameron Hanekom. It was a slight surprise that he wasn't selected for the Australia clash, with Elrigh Louw preferred instead. In the brief minutes afforded to him this season, Hanekom has shown more than enough evidence that he can excel at Test level.
Standing ahead of them, of course, are the undisputed incumbents Siya Kolisi and Jasper Wiese, who will play major roles in the coming year. Finding the right moments to integrate De Villiers and Hanekom will be just as crucial as their performances on the pitch.
More data required
There were a handful of Boks selected for the match who still remain an enigma. Chief among these is the role of Handré Pollard. The double World Cup winner remained assured and clinical while on the field, and was his usual accurate self when slotting over points at goal.
However, he played only 48 minutes before being replaced by Feinberg-Mngomezulu — simply not enough game time to deliver a firm verdict regarding his place in the flyhalf pecking order alongside Manie Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Then there is Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who has filled in across both prop and hooker during this year's Tests. He delivers major moments of impact, but then seems to lose momentum as matches wear on.
Perhaps the biggest concern centers around fan-favourite Franco Mostert. Sous was largely absent during his starting shift in Perth — admittedly coming off a protracted injury layoff — and seems a long way off his peak form. With the lock stock looking vulnerable at times, a clear call will need to be made on his place within the squad well before the World Cup next year.