Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar will get another chance to secure the position of backup player number 2 when the Boks team meets Argentina next Saturday in Buenos Aires.
Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Vessels must face a serious test against Argentina in the last Springboks match before the 'Great Rivalry' in the Rugby tournament against the All Blacks. These two are recognized hookers in the 26-man Boks squad selected by head coach Rassie Erasmus for the confrontation in Buenos Aires, and they must prove their worth as backups for two-time World Champion Malcolm Marx in the series.
Marx is not participating in the trip, which places the responsibility and pressure on Grobbelaar and Vessels to maintain a high level of play in the number 2 position, demonstrating to Erasmus and the management that they can replace Marx before the matches against the All Blacks.
Grobbelaar is likely to start as a hooker next Saturday, and for the player who only played in the match against Scotland during the Nations Cup, a lot is at stake. This indicates that the Boks prefer a versatile player as a replacement for Marx in the test team. Vessels, who can play both hooker and prop, participated in all three mid-year matches, which could put him in the sights for the 'Great Rivalry' in Rugby.
However, precise execution at the out-line, combined with tireless work in ball retention and defense, could strengthen Grobbelaar's position. If he performs brilliantly against an expectedly motivated Argentina, it could put Erasmus in a difficult position when choosing a backup hooker for the series of test matches.
Although Grobbelaar has not made mistakes in the Springbok form, the value of versatile players, which world champions appreciate, could work against him in the future. Rassie Erasmus adopted a strategic approach to the next stage of the international season, naming a group of 43 players who will gather in Johannesburg on Sunday to begin preparations for the match against Argentina in Buenos Aires and the 'Great Rivalry' in Rugby.
Vessels' ability to play as a loosehead prop and hooker makes him a very attractive candidate. As a powerful scrummager, his presence allows Erasmus to field an impenetrable front line on the bench, while also providing the option of having two loosehead props among the reserves, as was the case against England at the Nations Cup. This worked excellently, and the English scrum faced difficulties even after Ox Nche was forced off the field due to injury early in the match.
Nevertheless, Grobbelaar's accuracy at the out-line moment could ultimately weigh more in his favor for appointment as Marx's replacement. On the other hand, Erasmus is known for his unconventional thinking regarding squad composition.
Since Ardie Savea is not yet in South Africa, All Blacks tour captain Cody Taylor was popular among Cape Town residents. Hundreds of people welcomed New Zealand to the Mother City before the 'Great Rivalry' in Rugby against the Springboks.
Both players should receive enough game time next weekend to prove their worth, and whoever prevails may give a strong indication of who will take a spot in the Springboks reserve for the first test match at Ellis Park stadium. Grobbelaar still fits the traditional 'Bomb' lineup, while Vessels opens up the possibility for Erasmus to overload the reserves with locks or forwards. This could add another layer of unpredictability to the 'Great Rivalry' in Rugby and provide the world champions with another trump card.
Since Marx is almost guaranteed to return to the All Blacks series, Grobbelaar and Vessels have one last chance to make a lasting impression. Whoever succeeds on Saturday could end up on the field at Ellis Park in one of the most significant matches of the year.
