Springbok Watch: Players in the Spotlight v Italy

Johan Grobbelaar

Grobbelaar is a curious case when it comes to the national team. He made his Bok debut against Portugal last June and won two more caps against Australia and Wales (all in the starting line-up), but was then omitted from the 2025 mid-year and Rugby Championship squads.

Marnus van der Merwe took his spot and shone, only for the Scarlets hooker to then make way for “Grobbies” when the end-of-year squad was announced. With Malcolm Marx in imperious form, Grobbelaar made short cameos off the bench against Japan and France and now gets his chance to show Rassie Erasmus his worth.

With no specialist back-up hooker on the bench (No. 8 Marco van Staden is an emergency option to provide cover if needed), it’s especially vital for the 27-year-old to produce the goods against the Azzurri.

Jean Kleyn

Over two years after his last Test appearance, Kleyn will finally add to his tally when he starts alongside Franco Mostert in the engine room.

The former Irish international was first roped in by Erasmus against Australia ahead of the 2023 World Cup and earned a further six caps, the last off the bench in the 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the World Cup final.

He did play for South Africa in this year’s season-opener against the Barbarians, but that was a friendly fixture. The 32-year-old, who’s set to leave Munster at the end of the season, is weighing up deals from French giants Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles, which speaks to his quality.

Expect him to be fired up and to lay into the Italians.

Ben-Jason Dixon

Likewise, Dixon will be coming out all guns blazing in what will be his first Test of the season.

Since his half-dozen Test appearances last season, the gifted loose forward has had to navigate some stormy seas, including a wrist injury and a contract dispute with the Stormers that went to arbitration.

Now back in the Bok fold, this starting opportunity is a chance for him to rekindle his international career. For Dixon, who loves to play a roaming role, the key is not to try too hard but rather to get through his work and make good decisions, particularly when to and not to offload in the tackle.

International Rugby Predictions – 15-16 November

Handre Pollard

Some supporters have short memories. For as stellar as Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been this season, fans shouldn’t forget what a supreme general Pollard is.

The only pivot to pilot his country to two world championships, Pollard has been put on ice since his last appearance in the 24-17 loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park at the start of September.

This has been done with the bigger picture in mind, both to manage the veteran’s game time and to give Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok more experience.

Erasmus has been clear that Pollard still has a massive role to play for the Boks, and this, his fifth outing of the season, is a great opportunity for the 31-year-old to remind anyone who may have forgotten about his class.

Ethan Hooker

As a blue-chip athlete, Hooker has been so good on the wing, where he played in all six of his Tests to date, that many don’t know that he’s actually a centre.

He flourished in the midfield at Westville and for the South African age-group teams before starting his senior career at the star-studded Sharks, where most of his opponents have come on the wing.

Big, young, strong, and explosive, he’s primed to have a big game in his preferred position and will benefit immensely from having the ice-cool Pollard on his inside.

He and Canan Moodie could be the next legendary Bok centre pairing, and if they are, we’ll look back to this game as where it all started for the dynamic duo.