Considering the recent Springboks rugby news, the latest team announcement happened on Tuesday, July 8th, right before their match against Italy on Saturday. They will appear in a new-look squad with three uncapped players on the bench, led by Salmaan Moerat, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), who played in the Springboks' 54-7 victory over the Barbarians two weekends ago, Cobus Wiese (utility forward), brother of No. 8 Jasper Wiese, and Ethan Hooker (utility back), who have all been in outstanding form for their respective teams this season, are the players in line to make their Test debuts. Moerat will captain the team, which includes seven players from the team that overcame Italy 42-24 in Pretoria last week, while Siya Kolisi is handled as he recovers from a niggle. In their 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter against the Pumas in Argentina, Moerat last captained the Boks. Le Roux, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Marco van Staden, and Jasper Wiese are the seven players who will play the Azzurri for the second consecutive week. They are all included in the starting lineup, and Ox Nche and Jan-Hendrik Wessels will contribute from the substitutes' bench. With Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi, a native of the Eastern Cape, joining Le Roux in the back three, Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie in the midfield, and Manie Libbok and Grant Williams at halfback, Erasmus has selected an intriguing new backline. In the front row, Thomas du Toit will pack down with Louw and Marx, Ruan Nortje and Moerat will control the engine room, and Jasper Wiese and Van Staden will form a loose three with Pieter-Steph du Toit. Wessels joins fellow front-rowers Nche and Ntlabakanye, as well as the versatile Cobus Wiese and Evan Roos, on the bench, while Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Hooker will cover the back line. Erasmus selected five forwards and three backs. "Willie has been a stalwart for us in the last few years after making his debut against Italy in Durban in 2013, and he's a fantastic playmaker, so we are thrilled to see him achieve this incredible feat. To attain this milestone is a tribute to the player and teamman that Willie is; only seven players in Springbok history have played 100 Tests before him.” Erasmus said in response to Le Roux receiving his 100th Test cap. Injury Reports and Player Comebacks Like in every sport, injuries are unfortunately unavoidable. The good news is that five players will return from injuries that ruled them out of action last season: Pieter-Steph Du Toit – shoulder injury has put him out of action since JanuaryRuan Nortje – a leg injury has put him out of action since November last yearGrant Williams – neck injury has put him out of action since May Makazole Mapimpi – serious facial injury in the World Cup 2023 and a three-game suspension in early 2025 Evan Roos – a head injury that has put him out of action since June this year Springboks have a tight schedule ahead; therefore, it is expected that no unnecessary risks will be taken. Coaching Decisions and Tactical Insights Last Saturday at the Loftus Verfsfeld Stadium, the Springboks beat Italy 42-24. Speaking of tactics, South Africa’s use of 8 replacements has gained the same amount of praise and criticism. Pre-planned substitutes do play a part, but more significantly, the coaches may time the replacements for maximum impact and provide a variety of possibilities for maximum effect. Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus is famous for implementing his Bomb Squad tactics back in the World Cup 2019, with the bench playing a crucial role in winning games. The Bomb Squad was used well by Jacques Nienaber and Erasmus in the 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions following the World Cup, and the same was true at the 2023 tournament. Following Willie le Roux's injury before kickoff in the warm-up match against the All Blacks at Twickenham, the Bok coaches threw the dice with a 7-1 split before the tournament in France. The South Africans went to the extreme of replacing only one backline player for the first time, but it paid off as they defeated their most formidable opponents 35-7. When the coaches went back to the conventional 5-3 split setup during the tournament, the Bomb Squad's mentality and ideology truly came to the fore. Erasmus gambled with the tactics, stating he was well aware that Bomb Squad tactics either solve the problem or do not. The primary critique of the strategy has been based on the premise that adding six or seven new forwards in the closing minutes of games is unsafe for the well-being of the players. However, Springboks have been known for one of the strongest defences in the world, but lately they seem to implement tactics where centres press higher to disrupt the opposition's backlines early. It may be time to try new things. In the back, he has more tools than ever before. Later on, it could be advantageous to send it wide rather than put more big boys on the bench. Performance Review: Recent Fixtures In 2024, the Springboks have had a pretty good record. If it’s up to judge by the last two games, this year could be as successful as the last one, where they: played 13 gameswon 11lost 2 Besides the game against Italy, they were heavily beaten by the Barbarians just one week earlier by 54-7. One player that stood out in the game past Saturday was Morne von den Berg, making us all ask why he was so underrated all along. With a natural grasp of how the game was progressing, the 27-year-old managed the proceedings. He showed off his remarkable speed and try-scoring skills by slicing through the Azzurri defence and scoring twice. At 54 minutes, he was taken off the pitch because it was evident that his side was having trouble without him. World Rankings and What’s at Stake With 92.78 points, South Africa currently sits on the throne, but not so comfortably. Behind it, there are countries like: New Zealand (90.98)Ireland (89.83)France (88.900 The whole battle for the number one place in the world is going to take place in September this year when South Africa faces New Zealand. The real focus remains on building momentum ahead of next year’s British & Irish Lions tour and the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle. Standout Players and Breakout Performers Besides Von den Borg, some players have been shining for the Springboks lately. Jesse Kriel – Last game was bound to be a daunting experience to captain the Springboks for the first time at Test level, but Kriel's day started off well as he charged over in front of the posts early in the first half to set the tone for the remainder of the game. Even though the outside centre didn't put on an awe-inspiring show, he demonstrated the skills necessary for a first-class captain by doing the fundamentals well and leading the defence with a work rate that others could follow.Damian Williemse – The graceful full-back always seems to be flying through the air with the ball in his palm, and today was no exception. He topped the running metres and defenders beaten charts after making his first appearance back with the Springboks since the 2023 World Cup final. His 14 carries, which broke the heels of eight potential tacklers (double that of his closest teammate), were crucial in enabling his squad to breach the Italian defence and establish an early and insurmountable lead. Fan Reactions and Media Buzz Fans remain optimistic in supporting the World’s number one team. However, they are taking it cautiously. They are full of praise for youngsters like Roos and Arendse. South African media have also emphasised the team's increasing depth. With several pundits praising Erasmus' readiness to take measured chances by bringing in fresh players, the consistency of performance, particularly in the away games, remains a source of some worry, though. Commentators speak for every fan out there when they urge more poise in close games. However, the results remain in favor of the Springboks, and as long as this continues, fans and media will be satisfied. What’s Coming Next on the Calendar There are chances to hone strategies and cement the new-look team in each of these games. Supporters may anticipate that the coaching staff will keep switching around the players to get as many points as possible. SA Rugby confirms every match, and they all have a significant impact on how the team plays going into the next international cycle: Italy, 12th JulyGeorgia, 19th JulyAustralia, 16th AugustAustralia, 23rd August Spotlight on Domestic Rugby and Development Pathways The national team has always been provided by talent from domestic rugby. Future Springboks can still be found in the Currie Cup and the United Rugby Championship (URC). With impressive domestic performances, players like Nohamba, Neethling Fouché (Stormers), and Elrigh Louw (Bulls) have all made compelling arguments. Recent call-ups are consistent with Erasmus's repeated emphasis on the value of rewarding form at the club level. Looking at the current U20 World Cup, Springboks Juniors are favourites to go into the semi-final after they just had a brilliant game against Scotland. That proves that the future looks bright and that there is plenty of talent in South Africa waiting to step onto the world’s biggest stage. Things are currently looking great for Springboks as they are currently number one in the world and on a winning streak. It seems like the team’s chemistry is working perfectly, and the tactics are bringing results. However, in every sport, consistency remains the hardest thing to achieve, and the real test for Springboks is yet to come, as the upcoming fixtures could decide not just their world ranking, but also fans' mood and media reactions. Pressure is on them.