The Springboks' prop stocks needed urgent replenishing this year after Steven Kitshoff's retirement and Frans Malherbe's serious neck injury put the brakes on his career.
Another veteran, Trevor Nyakane's Bok career is also in limbo with the 36-year-old last playing for the Boks against Portugal last year.
That meant the Boks' established prop contingent was reduced to Ox Nché (41 Tests), Vincent Koch (63 Tests) and to a lesser degree Thomas du Toit (25 caps).
Last year Gerhard Steenekamp took meaningful strides towards securing a regular spot in the Bok match-day mix but injury has stunted that momentum this season. He last played for the Boks against Wales in November last year.
After making his debut in 2017 tight head Wilco Louw (18 Tests), through some powerful performances in the United Rugby Championship, has rekindled his long-term international ambitions. With Koch having started 12 of his 63 Tests among the substitutes, very much seen as a specialist off the bench, Louw appears to have muscled his way to the No 3 jersey.
Du Toit, a World Cup winner in 2019, has hovered on the periphery but is back in the mix after an impressive season with Bath. His ability to pack down in either side of the scrum is invaluable.
The equally versatile Jan-Hendrik Wessels made his debut against Portugal last year and has played in four more Tests since.
Asenathi Ntlabakanye has been added to the Bok ranks this season, while Boan Venter and Neethling Fouché are the latest inductees after they debuted in an all new front row against Georgia in Mbombela last weekend.
We jokingly call the back five the V8, and you can feel the power coming through
— Boan Venter
The only other prop to have played for the Boks since the start of last year is Ntuthuko Mchunu who has represented the national team on three occasions since making his debut in 2022.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, however, felt the need to cast his net wider. In a bold move he selected Venter and Fouche next to hooker Marnus van der Merwe for their debut appearances at Test level last weekend.
Venter, who joined Edinburgh in 2021, could have waited his turn and represented Scotland, but he opted to run out for the country of his birth.
“From a young boy playing rugby at six or seven years old, it’s every South African’s dream to play for the Springboks, so when I got that call, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me,” explained Venter.
“At the end of the day what counts is that we are here and it was so great to slot into this group. Everyone was so welcoming and helped us hit the ground running.
“Since the team was announced we felt the support of the whole group.”
The 28-year-old had a memorable debut scoring a try after just eight minutes. He was part of a pack that gradually wore down the feisty Georgians . “We jokingly call the back five the V8, and you can feel the power coming through.
“As a group, we are quite tight and try to pick each other up and be supportive, and it played a massive role in giving us confidence leading up to the game.
“It’s a level up from club rugby. Not much in terms of due process but it’s definitely a level up. I wouldn’t say it surprised me, it was just nice to again see how big rugby is in South Africa.
“It’s quite inspirational to see a whole nation get behind a team and they know how much that support means.”
Erasmus will this week name a squad of 36 for the two home Rugby Championship Tests against Australia and it would be a huge show of trust should Venter crack the nod in that group.
- Rassie Erasmus's Springbok squad for the first two Rugby Championship Tests against Australia here
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