The Springboks could be without the services of powerhouse forward Jasper Wiese for the upcoming July internationals.<\/b><\/p>\n
Rassie Erasmus\u2019 charges will face the Barbarians at the end of June before back-to-back Tests against Italy then Georgia before the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n
However, they do so without World Cup-winning number eight Wiese whose season in Japan was brought to a swift end due to a neck injury.<\/p>\n
It has yet to be disclosed just how long the 29-year-old will be out for having returned to South Africa to undergo surgery but one cannot be overly cautious when it comes to neck injuries.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, we take a look at who Erasmus could turn to to fill Wiese\u2019s void in the number eight jersey against the Baa-baas, Azzurri and Lelos.<\/p>\n
Front runners: Evan Roos, Cameron Hanekom<\/p>\n
While Erasmus selected 50 different players for the Springboks in 2024, just four men wore the number eight Green and Gold jumper, they were Kwagga Smith, Elrigh Louw, Wiese and Evan Roos.<\/p>\n
Louw would have surely been the clear front runner had he not a career-threatening leg injury that has put him out of action in 2025. The Bulls forward was superb in the Bok jersey last year and played 10 Test matches but will only return to the field in 2026.<\/p>\n
Wiese missed the Boks\u2019 opening six games in 2024 through suspension and if he is to be unavailable again this year, Erasmus will surely turn to either Roos or Cameron Hanekom to fill his void.<\/p>\n
Roos started against Wales and Portugal last year in Wiese\u2019s absence before deciding to go under the knife and sort out a troublesome shoulder strain that was affecting his performances. He has been in solid form for the Stormers since returning from another injury setback. While he hasn\u2019t been a regular member of the Bok squad, the coaches clearly see something they like in his game and have given him multiple opportunities to stake his claim with mixed results. Like Louw last year, this could really be his breakout year in international rugby.<\/p>\n
However, the same is very much true for his Bulls counterpart Hanekom. There is a suggestion, one that Erasmus has raised too, that Hanekom is better suited on the side of the scrum at the highest level. But he could get a chance to press for regular involvements at the back of the scrum this year if Wiese is sidelined. There is no doubt that the 22-year-old has the all-court game to thrive at Test level but just needs to catch an injury break. He will surely be selected in the wider squad and then it is up to him to force Erasmus\u2019 hand.<\/p>\n
Concerning update for Rassie Erasmus as World Cup-winning Springbok suffers season-ending neck injury<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In the mix: Kwagga Smith, Siya Kolisi<\/p>\n While Smith was one of the four number eights to start for the Springboks last year, it is clear that he is most impactful from the bench and arguably the best \u2018Bomb Squad\u2019 exponent the Boks have. But still, he will be in the mix for the starting jersey in Wiese\u2019s absence having started in the role against Ireland last July.<\/p>\n There is also an interesting debate to be had with Siya Kolisi who Erasmus has confirmed will continue to lead this year. The double World Cup-winning skipper has played more Test matches at flank than any other player in Springboks history (77) but most of his appearances for the Sharks this season have come at the back of the scrum.<\/p>\n Kolisi has been in excellent form for the Sharks despite his team\u2019s see-saw results and could be a handy selection option for Erasmus. Italy posted the worst lineout success in the Six Nations and while that was at 90%, Erasmus has the luxury of players like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ben-Jason Dixon who can bolster the jumper options on the side of the scrum, meaning the number eight doesn\u2019t necessarily need to jump but Kolisi has also been adding that asset to his game in recent matches with the Sharks.<\/p>\n Bomb Squad: The birth of the Springboks\u2019 explosive tactics, its copycats, detractors and controversies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n