Rugby Union Talent Factory: South Africa’s Unrivaled Depth in the Second-Row
Published on BBC Sport, [Current Date]
South Africa’s rugby union program has long been renowned for its ability to churn out world-class second-row forwards, and according to former Springbok Schalk Burger, this is simply in their genes.
The Springboks boast an impressive array of locks, led by the formidable Eben Etzebeth, who is poised to go down as one of the greats. In a previous era, the imposing Bakkies Botha was a dominant enforcer. But the depth doesn’t end there, as South Africa also has Franco Mostert, RG Snyman, and Lood de Jager, all proven performers at the highest level.
“If you think of the versatility of those guys, Pieter-Steph started off as a lock, but the fact that he has such an engine, he can cover both,” former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers said, highlighting the multifunctionality of these players.
This wealth of talent is not just limited to the second-row position, as the Boks also possess a remarkable crop of tall and strong flankers, such as Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruan Venter, and Elrigh Louw, who can seamlessly cover the lock position when required.
Burger, who stands at 6ft 4in, believes this abundance of quality back-five forwards is a reflection of the natural build of South Africans, particularly in the Afrikaans community. “You walk around the streets and you see a lot of locks, a lot of loose forwards,” he said on the Boks Office podcast.
While some of the aforementioned players are currently sidelined with injuries, including Mostert and De Jager, the Springboks’ depth allows them to rotate their 23-man squad to suit their opposition.
This versatility and the ability to field a formidable pack of forwards has been a hallmark of successful South African teams, including the 1995 and 2007 Rugby World Cup winners, who boasted absolute powerhouses in the back five.
As the modern Springboks continue to dominate world rugby, their unrivaled depth in the second-row and back-row positions remains a testament to the nation’s rugby union talent factory.
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