Last season, Cobus Reinach started six Tests and was largely seen as the Springboks’ first-choice scrumhalf as he showed no signs of slowing down even at the age of 35.
However, the veteran halfback is now set to be out of action for up to three months after suffering a knee injury in last weekend’s URC win over Glasgow Warriors.
Reinach is expected to miss all of the July internationals, and it has opened up a spot in the squad for another scrumhalf to come into the mix.
How the Springboks’ scrumhalf pecking order is now expected to look
1 Grant Williams
The 29-year-old dovetailed brilliantly with Reinach last year, featuring in 11 Tests as he became a mainstay in the Springbok matchday 23. Williams is now the obvious choice to grab hold of the No 9 jersey, with his experience sure to give the Springbok coaches some comfort.
2 Morne van den Berg
The reliable Lions halfback was entrusted with regular game-time last season, and it’s clear that Rassie Erasmus views him as a player firmly placed on the pathway to World Cup selection. Van den Berg will surely bank more minutes during the July internationals.
3 Faf de Klerk
The two-time World Cup winner recently made a big career decision to move back to the Cheetahs, and although he has fallen by the wayside at the Springboks in recent times – largely due to injuries – there is now a perfect opening for him to come back into the mix as the ‘third’ scrumhalf for the start of the season.
Others knocking on the door
4 Jaden Hendrikse
The good news for the Springboks is that South African rugby is blessed with depth at scrumhalf, and Hendrikse is believed to still be very much part of the national conversation despite last featuring in the green and gold back in 2024.
5 Embrose Papier
The 29-year-old earned his seventh Test cap in 2018, but he has not made an international appearance ever since. However, Papier has arguably been the most in-form South African scrumhalf this year after producing one impressive performance after another for the Bulls. His omission from the Springbok alignment camps at the start of the year has been surprising, but he can’t be far away from knocking down the door to earn a recall.
