The Springboks have regenerated again – the world has been warned

Speaking of Fassi, the Sharks full-back became one of several successors at key positions who went on to receive significant minutes, providing a carrying threat from the full-back that contrasts with the playmaking skills by Willie le Roux. Le Roux (35 years old) has participated in the Rugby Championship twice, De Allende (32 years old) and Kolisi (33 years old) four times, while Eben Etzebeth (32 years old) has made three starts and Handre Pollard (30 years old) only two. Faf de Klerk (32) did not feature at all due to a quad injury.

Among the younger, more inexperienced options who have taken their places are second rows Salmaan Moerat and Ruan Nortje, Ben-Jason Dixon on the flank, scrum-halves Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse and, of course, the exciting half-back opening Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. . Add to that nine more debutants winning their first caps against Wales and Portugal and so far it’s not just a successful development, adding a Rugby Championship title to the Rugby World Cup. last year, but a rapid evolution.

Of the starters who faced Argentina last weekend, only five were under 30 – Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Libbok, Hendrikse and Ox Nche – so it’s a pressing question. A special group including Etzebeth, now South Africa’s most capped player with 128 caps, went from the humiliation of losing to Japan and Italy and being beaten 57-0 by the All Blacks to domination of sport under Erasmus. A return to those dark days will not be accepted. The good news for millions of die-hard Springboks supporters is that this seems highly unlikely. Which, just like one of those dominant scrums in South Africa, has everyone worried.