Springboks - 5 Key Players
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While all 31 players in each World Cup team will play some sort of role in their team’s campaign – major or minor – there are a few who stand out in each team as pivotal to their country’s success or early exit.
For South Africa, four of the five key players have been struggling with injury, and the fifth with form.
Jean de Villiers
The Bok captain has accumulated 107 Test caps despite horrific ill-fortune with
injuries since his 2002 Test debut. To add to the career-long injury woes, his
knee injury last November meant he sat out the entire 2015 Super Rugby
competition and his jaw injury curtailed his Rugby Championship participation. De
Villiers’s skills and decision-making in midfield, tight defence, and most of
all, his wise judgment and composure as captain are vital Bok components. Has
he regained the acceleration he lacked in the Rugby Championship? If he is
anywhere near his best as a centre it will be a boost to the Bok cause, and his
leadership could be the difference between Bok triumph and disaster.
Fourie du Preez
At his best, Du Preez is as good a scrumhalf as any in Springbok history. But
playing in Japan is not conducive to hitting one’s strides easily in top-flight
Test rugby, and injuries have allowed him to play little rugby in 2015, and sadly,
none at all recently. His scrumhalf skills, particularly the accuracy of his
decision-making and precision of his tactical kicking, are sublime, but we
shall have to wait to see how he performs in the World Cup to assess his likely
contribution to the accurate execution of the Bok game-plan.
Duane Vermeulen
Unlucky not to be selected as World Rugby’s player of the year in 2014,
Vermeulen was magnificent in Super Rugby (again) before succumbing to injury.
He is as influential a player as any number 8 in the world, with his physical
intensity and controlled aggression, underrated handling skills, and punishing
defence great attributes. If fit, he could be one of the standout players of
RWC 2015.
Eben Etzebeth
The Springbok’s brilliant young lock is still struggling with injury but will
be carefully managed because he has a substantial role to play. He has it all –
physically imposing, skilful, intelligent, fiercely determined. At age 23 he
has already played 37 Tests and could become one of the all-time great Bok
second rows. If he can overcome injury, he could leave a huge mark on this
tournament.
Willie le Roux
The Bok fullback can be devastating as an adventurous, creative, skilful
attacking ball-carrier but he is prone to making unforced errors which can be
costly. His Super Rugby and Rugby Championship form has been encouraging in isolated moments only, and not for consistent
contribution. With Patrick Lambie told he is competing for the 10 jersey only
and the steady, solid but ordinary Zane Kirchner the only other fullback in the
squad, Le Roux’s skilful or wayward form may be a key to Bok success.