South Africa
Odds to win: 9/1
Mood in the camp
Buoyant after a first win in New Zealand for nine years. Expectations are no longer low for the Springboks given that Rassie Erasmus was only appointed in June, replacing Allister Coetzee after a difficult two-year spell. Erasmus, who is both South Africa’s director of rugby and head coach on a six-year contract, started his tenure with a series win over England – without his two best forwards in Malcolm Marx and Eben Etzebeth – before stumbling away from home against Argentina and Australia. Knocking off the All Blacks, especially in New Zealand, should now give him plenty of credit in the bank.
Coach’s conundrum
Certain positions and combinations remain yet to be nailed down. Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard need more time to gel as a half-back pairing, while in midfield Erasmus is yet to settle on a combination featuring either Damian de Allende/andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel/lukanyo Am. Duane Vermeulen is also set to return at No 8, but that would displace Warren Whiteley, another star performer. Elton Jantjies is the next man up at fly-half behind Pollard but faith in his ability at Test level remains low, meaning there is still time for another No 10 to break through.
Who can they not do without?
Given the Springboks’ tendency to opt for power over flair, Willie le Roux is the perfect antidote at full-back. South Africa need the Wasps player’s distribution skills to create opportunities for explosive wingers Aphiwe Dyantyi and Makazole Mapimpi given the lack of a playmaker in midfield, and Le Roux fits the bill.
Who could be their bolter?
The hype has steadily built around Damian Willemse in recent years, with the fly-half/full-back coming off his first full season in Super Rugby with the Stormers. A maverick with buckets of ability, Willemse’s speed makes him an entirely different kind of No 10 to Handre
Pollard.