The Battle for Rugby World Cup Spots: Four Springbok Players Face Uncertain Futures
The announcement of the Springboks Rugby Championship squad list has raised questions about the prospects of four players making the Rugby World Cup team. The exclusion of Marvin Orie, Evan Roos, Canan Moodie, and Elton Jantjies from the squad that will face New Zealand on June 15, 2023, has cast doubt on their future in the sport's most prestigious event.
The announcement of the Springboks Rugby Championship squad list has raised questions about the prospects of four players making the Rugby World Cup team. The exclusion of Marvin Orie, Evan Roos, Canan Moodie, and Elton Jantjies from the squad that will face New Zealand on June 15, 2023, has cast doubt on their future in the sport’s most prestigious event.
The Springbok Squad List
Head coach Nienaber sent a group of 14 players to New Zealand in preparation for the showdown against the All Blacks. After the team’s successful 43-12 victory over the Wallabies, Nienaber disclosed 21 more names joining the New Zealand-bound squad. However, Orie, Roos, Moodie, and Jantjies were not included.
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Uncertainty for Four Players
The exclusion of these four players from the New Zealand match is a sign that they may not make Nienaber’s final 33-man Rugby World Cup 2023 squad, which he will reveal in August.
Marvin Orie
It appears that Jean Kleyn’s outstanding debut performance against the Wallabies has given him an edge over Orie, who is now at risk of not making the World Cup team. The strong performances of Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, and Franco Mostert make it difficult for Orie to secure a spot, with RG Snyman and Kleyn competing for the final slot.
Evan Roos
Van Staden’s impressive performance has pushed Roos further down the pecking order. Other players have also secured their places in the New Zealand squad, and Siya Kolisi’s expected return diminishes Roos’ chances of making the World Cup team.
Canan Moodie
Moodie faces fierce competition in his position, making his exclusion understandable. However, there may be a chance for Moodie if Nienaber chooses to include an extra outside back, particularly if veteran Jesse Kriel does not perform well.
Elton Jantjies
Jantjies was not part of the Australian match or invited to New Zealand, making his Rugby World Cup aspirations uncertain.
The Countdown to Rugby World Cup 2023
The pressure is on for these four players as they try to secure a spot in the final squad for Rugby World Cup 2023. Whether they can defy the odds and make the cut or if their World Cup dreams will be left unfulfilled remains to be seen.
Zola Naidoo is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting politics and the lived realities behind the headlines. A weekend trail-runner on Table Mountain’s lower contour paths, she still swops stories in her grandmother’s District Six kitchen every Sunday, grounding her reporting in the cadences of the Cape.
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