Interesting to see that SA has a couple of "super-heavy" guys too (Williamse, Oosthuizen).
It seems that most countries seem to have 1 or 2 guys who are 125-135kg coming through in their early 20s.
There are going to be some very large forward packs in the next 5 years!
Out of those guys you've listed is there anyone who you think is going to come through a bit like Eben has?
Well, a lot of guys have potential but whether or not they'll make the step up as successfully as Etzebeth is of course pure conjecture. Some of the SA players I would keep an eye out for:
Pieter-Steph du Toit a young lock/loose forward that the Sharks stole from WP and I am bitter about LOL. He is like Etzebeth something of an all-rounder rather than specifically a TH lock or athletic line-out operator. Has shown potential but needs to stay injury free.
Another young guy that we all raved about that has had limited chances because of injury is flyhalf
Johan Goosen who has good vision for the gap and the delayed pass, speed to burn and a nice flat pass on top of the traditional huge boot. If he can master his tactical kicking he can go very far. His defense is a bit suspect but not any less than what we currently have in Morne Steyn. Would probably have been incumbent Bok 10 by now if not injury prone and already has had 2 long term injuries. He is expected to return soon and might even play in the final round of Currie cup on the weekend if the Cheetahs rush him back like they are wont to do with their best.
Jan Serfontein has also like Goosen already donned the Bok jersey but off the bench and usually out of position to accommodate captain JdV. He has impressed off the bench against world class opposition IMO and he'll get his chances. In fact he is much more of a prospect than JJ Engelbrecht at 13. It's just his bad luck that JdV is there and Jaque Fourie in Japan.
Arno Botha is a classic blindside flanker that has also had a chance to don a Bok jersey in June and was very effective but one probably has to question the opposition in Scotland, Samoa and Italy away from home. He got his chance off the back of a stellar SR performance before the test series break and took it with both hands before injury. He faces difficulty in getting back in though because the Bok flanks are a tough gig to crack. CJ Stander left the Bulls because of this guy basically being preferred.
Those for me are the ones on the cusp of making it as Bok starters for good reason.
Some of the others I see as longer term prospects and I'd be surprised if they made it to the 2015 RWC but HM seems to have already fast-tracked a few guys with success so who knows:
Paul Willemse; huge classic TH lock; personally I am more excited about him than PS du Toit (who gets the majority vote though) simply because I see Etzebeth as more than capable at 5 which we see as the line-out operator and more athletic type.
Damian de Allende; big center and very hard runner with some pace. I'd want to see him at wing for WP with Habana leaving simply because WP lacks size out wide with our options in Gio Aplon and Cheslin Kolbe combined not weighiing much more Paul Willemse LOL.
Cheslin Kolbe; tiny tiny but he will make you look like a fool he is that elusive. Plays as 14/15 but has experience at 9 as well.
Jaco Taute is a utility back prefering 15 and has actually donned the Bok no 13 jersey outside JdV and was fast tracked but I put him here because he hasn't played any rugby for a while now on the back of two huge injuries and it proably remains to be seen whether he can come back succcessfully from them.
I include those because there is space for another lock- because of FvdMerwe and Juandre Kruger being limited- and outside backs.
Regarding England, could we expect to see the likes of that huge no.8 (Vulipola or something) and Christian Wade (who I remember because he pretty much ended our U20 hopes a couple of seasons ago single handedly and reminded me of Jason Robinson) this November?
) - up for grabs with Jannie out please.
