Three low points for the Springboks in 2024

It was a year of great success for the Springboks, but there were some areas where they did miss the mark. We take a closer look.

Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx world rankings

The Springboks after losing to Ireland. Image: @Springboks via X.

The Springboks ended the 2024 season with 11 wins from 13, and ensured they remain firmly entrenched at the top of the world rugby rankings.

All in all, there can be very few complaints about the success of this past season, but Rassie Erasmus – as the perfectionist he is – will undoubtedly be honest enough to reflect on where things could have been better.

Three points of order for the Springboks

Inconsistency in performance accuracy

One of the main priorities for the Springboks this year was to distribute game-time around a wider squad of 50 players in order to manage the game-time of some senior players, while also introducing a few newcomers to the Test arena.

It ultimately proved to be a successful strategy, but one of the drawbacks was the fact that the Springboks struggled to achieve real consistency in their performances, particularly as they also sought to evolve their attacking brand of rugby.

Upon review, the Springboks ultimately failed to produce a ‘complete 80-minute performance’ without some soft moments here or there, and this will undoubtedly be a focus area for next year.

Questions persist at 9 and 10

There aren’t too many positions where Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus isn’t sure of who his first-choice player would be in a must-win match.

However, when it comes to the all-important halfback positions, it does still feel like the No 9 and No 10 jersey is effectively up for grabs.

Handre Pollard is perhaps just ahead of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok in the fight for the flyhalf berth, while there is little to choose between Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach and largely forgotten Springbok Faf de Klerk.

This competition is not necessarily a bad thing, but the Springboks will want to settle on their best 9-10 combination sooner rather than later.

Two agonising defeats

It can’t be forgotten how close the Springboks came to an undefeated season, and ultimately two momentary lapses cost them dearly.

South Africa were well set for victory against Ireland in Durban back in July, and it was only a drop goal from the visitors with the last play of the game that ultimately saw South Africa succumb to a 25-24 loss.

Their only other defeat of the year came in Argentina, when a largely ‘second-string’ Springbok side suffered a shock one-point defeat when a regulation missed goal kick from Manie Libbok saw them just miss out on snatching a win.

Considering that the Springboks finished last year with four successive wins at the World Cup, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that South Africa could have currently been on a 17-match winning streak.