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The four South African players on Steve Borthwick's England radar

Harlequins full-back Tyrone Green (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

With the southern hemisphere solely focused on The Rugby Championship, it is a perfect time for the leading teams in the northern hemisphere to preview and review ahead of the Autumn Nations Series later this year.

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It will be a very challenging November schedule for England as they take on New Zealand, Australia and South Africa at Twickenham. The 2024 Rugby Championship, though, will give England head coach Steve Borthwick valuable insight into the different opposition philosophises.

However, he also has ample time to boost his set-up and it seems like he might be looking at a few South African stars to help him lift his team. According to media reports, Borthwick has his eye on four South African players, who will soon qualify for England on residency.

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus looks forward to facing the All Blacks

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    Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus looks forward to facing the All Blacks

    Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus previews the two-Test Rugby Championship series against the All Blacks

    Tyrone Green is regarded as one the best backline players in the Gallagher Premiership and has become a fan favourite. The 26-year-old Harlequins ace can cover just about every position in the backline. A product of Jeppe High School, Green joined Harlequins in 2020 from the Lions, becoming an integral part of their set-up and helping to secure their second Premiership title in 2021.

    He has signed a long-term contract with the London club, but England will have to wait as he won’t be eligible until June 2025 due to residency regulations. One might see him gain international experience with the British and Irish Lions for their trip to Australia next year.

    Jacques Vermeulen is a formidable player who joined Exeter Chiefs in 2019 from the Sharks. The forward, who can play lock and back row, has proven to be an incredible figure for the Premiership side. The former South Africa U20s international will qualify for England soon and his mobility and breakdown skills could be vital for Borthwick. While he would face fierce competition for places, it is fairly easy to imagine the industrious Paarl-born flank thriving in a Test match.

    Vermeulen’s fellow South African loose forward Hanro Liebenberg arrived at Leicester from the Bulls in 2019. He has been in fine form for the Tigers and has been voted his club’s player of the year. The 28-year-old was also part of the Tigers’ title-winning Premiership side in 2022.

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    Meanwhile, after heading to the Premiership from the Cheetahs in 2021, Benhard Janse van Rensburg has been making loads of strides in England. He joined London Irish and made more than 50 appearances for the Exiles over two seasons, scoring 11 Premiership tries before finding his place at Bristol Bears in 2023. The 27-year-old centre also covers fly-half.

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    Comments

    9 Comments
    M
    MT 227 days ago

    Not sure how someone being eligible in 2026 is relevant. Poor article designed to cause arguments.

    J
    JK 228 days ago

    South Africa need to head to the Pacific and grab some meaty wingers...

    B
    Bull Shark 227 days ago

    Where is the pacific? Is that north or south of the Jukskei?


    I scheme we’re missing a trick.


    There’s some big ass mothertruckers up in Africa.


    A handful of Senegalese Wrestlers would be nice.

    B
    Bull Shark 228 days ago

    If Tyrone Green hasn’t been part of any of the boks plans by now, I can’t see him becoming a Bok.


    Unless SARU/Rassie has been talking to any of these players on the side about their chances and “roadmaps” - then it’s fair game England.


    We could pick them all for the squad to play against England at Twickenham in November and take them out of contention for England, but unless they’re seen as long term options, that wouldn’t be fair on the players.

    C
    CK 228 days ago

    Trokkie is the guy I'm worried about losing. Juarno Augustus is a proper eighth man. He and Cameron Hanekom.

    D
    DP 228 days ago

    Yes! Mentioned him before elsewhere and he’s the forgotten 8 who I have no doubt would be huge for the Boks. Amazing player. Hannekom will be our 8 moving forward, of this have little doubt.

    T
    Toaster 228 days ago

    England could be the new Scotland of South African rugby 😃

    B
    Bull Shark 228 days ago

    Following the Ireland model too.

    D
    DP 228 days ago

    If you can’t beat em… hire their coaching staff AND muscle up with players deemed surplus to requirements. Imagine being a young English born player who’s overlooked.. pride in the Jersey and singing the national anthem half heartedly doesn’t appear to be an issue at the RFU. Funniest thing i heard was CJ Stander - one of Irelands best ever players - being interviewed.. what an accent 😅

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    J
    JW 2 hours ago
    Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

    It really all depends of how much overseas players would be paid (by NZR) to play for the All Blacks. I’ve not heard a peep on this front from any author suggesting it’s a good idea.


    If it’s nothing (a player gets his weekly paycheck from the club and thats it (which we know is definitely not the case in Ireland and France, or SA even I think?), then maybe it would retain more SR level players given that they’ll be getting the “AB” component (which is about where things stand, Burke for instance would have had to had his Sader contract upgraded to an AB one (think above Pero levels) to be on similar money.


    I’d having to imagine if a player is getting paid to do nothing over the international windows though, they are going to want to get paid extra for appear for the ABs, so in this situation, it’s hard to see many players being retained, yes.


    I’m pretty sure they flew to Japan and met in person.


    I’ve heard/had these discussions numerous times. I don’t think theres anyway to judge the interest that would be retain in SR. For one, it might be a more entertaining league as a result, as the JRLO is compared to Europe, despite it obviously being a lesser standard.


    If SRP is of a lesser standard and now able to use Japanese and American players to bolster teams, perhaps those markets more than make up for the downturn in NZ and Aus? Perhaps it gives NZR flexibility to create a more fit for purpose interdomestic competition, and interest actually increases? All you might need is a proper pathway from school to pro?


    Razor asked NZR to keep an open mind. Did NZR answer any of these questions to themself?

    24 Go to comments
    J
    JW 3 hours ago
    Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

    Yeah of course it can be, it manages a good commerical outcome when 100 million people are following it. I’m saying rugby is no where near even remotely close to getting the payoff you’re talking about, never mind the distinct lack of anyway to implement it.


    So you’re going for the dirty approach. I’m not surprised, it’s the only way to easily implement it right now. I wouldn’t see the benefit to doing that myself. A draft, if purely feasible in it’s own right, doesn’t need to provide commercial benefit at all (if it works, that’s all it needs to do, as it no doubt did back in america’s heyday). But without the advantageous backing of sponsors and interest levels, if you pick the wrong method to implement it, like a dirty approach, you do potential harm to it’s acceptance.


    The aspect’s of the approach you chose that I don’t like, is that the franchises are the ones spending the money of the U20’s only for there opposition to get first dibs. Personally, I would much prefer an investment into a proper pathway (which I can’t really see SR U20s being at all in anycase). I’m not exactly sure how the draft works in america, but I’m pretty sure it’s something like ‘anyone whishing to be pro has to sign for the draft’, and results in maybe 10 or 20% of those being drafted. The rest (that accumulative 80/90% year on year) do go back into club, pronvincial, or whatever they have there, and remain scouted and options to bring in on immediate notice for cover etc. You yes, you draw on everybody, but what is generating your interest in the drafties in the first plaec?


    This is your missing peace. If some come through school and into the acadamies, which would be most, you’ve currently got three years of not seeing those players after they leave school. Those that miss and come in through club, maybe the second year theyre in the draft or whatever, aged 20/21, you’re going to have no clue how they’ve been playing. NPC is a high level, so any that are good enough to play that would already be drafted, but some late bloomers you might see come in NPC but then Sky’s not going to broadcast that anymore. So what’s generating this massive interest you’re talking about, and most importantly, how does it tie in with the other 7 clubs that will be drafting (and providing) players outside of NZ?


    Is the next step to pump tens of millions into SRP U20s? That would be a good start for investment in the youth (to get onto international levels of pathway development) in the first place but are fans going to be interested to the same level as what happens in america? Baseball, as mentioned, has the minor leagues, if we use that model it hasn’t to be broad over the whole pacific, because you’re not having one draft right, they all have to play against each other. So here they get drafted young and sent out into a lower level thats more expansive that SR, is there interest in that? There would be for large parts, but how financially viable would it be. Twiggy tried to get a league started and NPC clubs joined. BOP and Taranaki want SR representation, do we have a mix of the biggest clubs and provinces/states make a couple of divisions? I think that is far more likely to fan interest and commerical capabilities than an U20 of the SR teams. Or ofc Uni fits a lot of options. I’ve not really read anything that has tried to nut out the feasability of a draft, it can certainly work if this spitballing is anything to go by, but I think first theres got to be a need for it far above just being a drafting level.

    36 Go to comments
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