Springboks: Five standout URC players who caught Rassie’s eye: Planet Rugby

Following the weekend’s United Rugby Championship action, we take a look at five players who caught the eye of Rassie Erasmus.

The Boks coach is expected to name his squad for the Autumn Nations Series soon and will be pleased with the performance of some of the stars this weekend.

Erasmus has not been shy about giving players opportunities this year and although there is huge competition for squad places, there is room for uncapped players to force their way through.

We take a look at five players who will have impressed the Springbok coach before naming his squad for the Tests against Scotland, England and Wales.

Damian Willemse vs Munster

Damian Willemse missed the Springboks’ first 10 Test matches of the year after cementing himself as a starter last year during the Rugby World Cup.

The 26-year-old defender started all of the Boks’ knockout matches during the tournament but was sidelined with a hand injury. However, he has returned to action with the Stormers and is in fine form.

Willemse has made four appearances to date, but his most recent performance against Munster was undoubtedly his best. The versatile winger started in midfield for the Cape team on Saturday and shined with the ball in hand and off the tee.

The Bok star is always a threat with the ball in his hands and that was true in the clash with the Irish giants, as he gained more than 50 running meters and beat six saves. He didn’t run the attack as effectively as Manie Libbok, but he was incredibly accurate off the tee, knocking down all five of his shots on goal and hit a crucial drop goal in the 77th minute.

He also defended strongly in midfield and was named man of the match for his efforts. Willemse will certainly be called up to the Springboks squad for November’s internationals, and rightly so, not just because of his form but also his versatility and proven pedigree.

While he was injured, Willie Le Roux and Aphelele Fassi were given opportunities at the green and gold number 15 jumper, with both players impressing, creating a healthy selection headache for Erasmus.

Stormers v Munster: Five takeaways as Damian Willemse issues ‘timely Springbok reminder’ against ‘wasteful’ Irish giants

Aphelele Fassi x Glasgow Warriors

Speaking of centre-back options, Aphelele Fassi took his sublime form in a Springboks shirt back to the Sharks, as he was also named man of the match for his efforts against Glasgow Warriors.

The man affectionately known as ‘Weekend Special’ opened his try-score account for the 2024/25 URC season with a clever touch and a close-range shot.

The lanky defender was also excellent at passing high and sharp defensively, whilst continuing to play with immense confidence.

Fassi was in the testing wilderness for two years but returned to the green and gold jersey with a bang in 2024, starting six times for the Erasmus team, scoring four times, including two goals last time out against Argentina.

The Sharks were boosted by the Springboks’ comeback against the reigning URC champions and Fassi was arguably the pick of the lot, gaining a game-best 71 running meters from his 11 runs and also making six passes, showing he is more than just an athletic running threat.

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RG Snyman x Connacht

RG Snyman missed the entire Rugby Championship, but the Springbok locks’ stock looks to be in much better health for the Autumn Nations Series, with the second row impressive for Leinster.

The 29-year-old is in monstrous form for his new team and will be eager to take those performances back into a Springbok shirt. His athleticism and transferability were game-changers for the Leinster team.

The mammoth block went viral with his one-handed lineout against his former team Munster and he impressed with an equally brilliant comeback against Connacht. Snyman collected the ball superbly after a Jamison Gibson-Park fumble and powered past the Connacht defense to score his third try of the game.

He put in a fiery 67-minute performance, making 11 carries and four tackles, as Leinster dominated possession. However, the most surprising statistic from his match was the fact that he completed eight clearances and 12 passes.

He has always been difficult with the ball in his hands, but now offers another unique threat who will fit perfectly into Tony Brown’s new attacking system.

Edwill van der Merwe x Zebre Parma

The Lions are one of two teams to remain unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship, along with Leinster and the Johannesburg team had to work extremely hard for their 9-10 victory over the Zebre.

The match was played in arid conditions in Italy, with Springbok hopeful Francke Horn awarded man of the match for his efforts on both sides of the ball.

However, the performance of winger Edwill van der Merwe will have caught the attention of Erasmus. The 28-year-old scored a fantastic goal against Wales at Twickenham Stadium, but suffered an injury that saw him miss the remaining July internationals and the Rugby Championship.

He has stood out for the Lions so far and his game against Zebre was particularly impressive as he was accurate on the high ball and solid defensively. He also did well to cross the whitewash in a crucial winning try.

Erasmus has a plethora of options in the form of Makazole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe and Canan Moodie, but Van der Merwe is certainly on his radar and his recent performances could earn him a recall.

Cameron Hanekom x Scarlets

It’s no secret that Erasmus is a fan of Bulls striker Cameron Hanekom, and it’s easy to see why after his sensational change against the Scarlets.

The Bulls may have fallen to a crushing 23-22 defeat to the Welsh side, but Hanekom was a shining light for Jake White’s men.

An injury denied him the opportunity to debut earlier this year, but Erasmus regularly mentions his name and he could finally earn his first cap.

In a successful 80-minute performance, Hanekom made 14 runs, 13 tackles and gained over 60 metres. He also beat two defenders and completed two clearances and three passes.

The 22-year-old has all the skills to be Duane Vermeulen’s long-term successor in a Springbok shirt, especially at half-time as he has won four comebacks against the Scarlets.

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