Springboks - 5 Key Players

While all 31 players in each World Cup team will play some sort of role in their team’s campaign – major or minor – there are a few who stand out in each team as pivotal to their country’s success or early exit.

For South Africa, four of the five key players have been struggling with injury, and the fifth with form.

Jean de Villiers
The Bok captain has accumulated 107 Test caps despite horrific ill-fortune with injuries since his 2002 Test debut. To add to the career-long injury woes, his knee injury last November meant he sat out the entire 2015 Super Rugby competition and his jaw injury curtailed his Rugby Championship participation. De Villiers’s skills and decision-making in midfield, tight defence, and most of all, his wise judgment and composure as captain are vital Bok components. Has he regained the acceleration he lacked in the Rugby Championship? If he is anywhere near his best as a centre it will be a boost to the Bok cause, and his leadership could be the difference between Bok triumph and disaster.

Fourie du Preez
At his best, Du Preez is as good a scrumhalf as any in Springbok history. But playing in Japan is not conducive to hitting one’s strides easily in top-flight Test rugby, and injuries have allowed him to play little rugby in 2015, and sadly, none at all recently. His scrumhalf skills, particularly the accuracy of his decision-making and precision of his tactical kicking, are sublime, but we shall have to wait to see how he performs in the World Cup to assess his likely contribution to the accurate execution of the Bok game-plan.

Duane Vermeulen
Unlucky not to be selected as World Rugby’s player of the year in 2014, Vermeulen was magnificent in Super Rugby (again) before succumbing to injury. He is as influential a player as any number 8 in the world, with his physical intensity and controlled aggression, underrated handling skills, and punishing defence great attributes. If fit, he could be one of the standout players of RWC 2015.

Eben Etzebeth
The Springbok’s brilliant young lock is still struggling with injury but will be carefully managed because he has a substantial role to play. He has it all – physically imposing, skilful, intelligent, fiercely determined. At age 23 he has already played 37 Tests and could become one of the all-time great Bok second rows. If he can overcome injury, he could leave a huge mark on this tournament.

Willie le Roux
The Bok fullback can be devastating as an adventurous, creative, skilful attacking ball-carrier but he is prone to making unforced errors which can be costly. His Super Rugby and Rugby Championship form has been encouraging in isolated moments only, and not for consistent contribution. With Patrick Lambie told he is competing for the 10 jersey only and the steady, solid but ordinary Zane Kirchner the only other fullback in the squad, Le Roux’s skilful or wayward form may be a key to Bok success.