Six World Cup winners who won’t play for Springboks again

A large majority of the Springboks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup squad look set to be on the plane to Australia for next year’s title defence.

However, over the last couple of years, some veteran players have begun to fall out of the Springbok picture, and all signs suggest that their time in the green and gold has come to an end.

Here, we take a closer look.

SPRINGBOKS WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO FEATURE AT TEST LEVEL AGAIN

Trevor Nyakane (age: 37, Test caps: 68)

A veteran prop who provided incredible versatility across both sides of the scrum, Nyakane is still recovering from a serious injury, and with the need to integrate younger talent in the front row, it’s highly unlikely he will add to his 68 caps.

Makazole Mapimpi (age: 36, Test caps: 47)

One of South Africa’s most prolific finishers, Mapimpi has seen his Test minutes drop significantly with the emergence and presence of others out wide: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Canan Moodie and Edwill van der Merwe. Mapimpi is a legend of the game, but is sadly unlikely to reach his half century milestone.

Willie le Roux (age: 37, Test caps: 101)

After an illustrious career where Le Roux played a key role with with his distribution and tactical nouse, the veteran fullback is in the final stretch of his career at the Bulls, with Aphelele Fassi, Damian Willemse, Quan Horn and even Kolbe offering other options at Test level in the No 15 jersey.

Vincent Koch (age: 36, Test caps: 63)

Still highly capable, but as a veteran tighthead, his role has shifted to a domestic role at a time when the likes of Wilco Louw and Thomas du Toit have increasingly made their presence felt since the last World Cup.

Faf de Klerk (age: 34, Test caps: 60)

Rassie Erasmus and Tony Brown have shifted toward a faster, high-tempo service style from the base. With competition provided by Grant Williams, Morne van den Berg, Herschel Jantjies, and then Cobus Reinach serving as the one veteran in the squad, it does appear that De Klerk is unlikely to come back into the Springbok reckoning.

Jean Kleyn (age: 33, Test caps: 9)

The Springboks’ second-row is well stocked, led by Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Ruan Nortje and Lood de Jager, and it’s telling that Kleyn has only featured in two Tests since featuring as a substitute in the 2023 World Cup final.

HOW THE BOK TEAM LOOKED FOR 2023 RWC FINAL

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Jasper Wiese, 23. Willie le Roux