Victor Matfield believes Faf de Klerk is nudging his way back into Erasmus's plans after a standout display for the Cheetahs — two tries, a game-changing shift, and apparently a walkie-talkie line to Frans Steyn on the sideline. Matfield's read is that Faf sits fourth or fifth in the pecking order behind Williams, Reinach, and Van den Berg, but that a performance like that makes the gap harder to ignore. The more pointed observation, though, is Matfield's blunt verdict on the Currie Cup itself: for the big URC franchises it's effectively an U23 competition with a couple of senior bodies thrown in, and the only reason Faf's performance registered at all is that the Cheetahs — without URC commitments — are actually fielding a competitive side. Matfield still sees the tournament's value as a Varsity-Cup-to-URC bridge, but the contrast with the era when he won it three times with genuine Bok-strength squads hangs over every word.
Matfield: Faf is knocking on the door — but the Currie Cup that shaped him barely exists anymore
Matfield tips Faf de Klerk for a Springbok recall after his Cheetahs form, while delivering a frank verdict that the Currie Cup has effectively become a development competition — meaningful for smaller unions, but a shadow of what it was when the big franchises fielded full-strength sides.
De Klerk explains South Africa return as scrumhalf crisis hands him Bok recall
Faf de Klerk has explained his decision to return to South Africa with the Cheetahs, saying family and a desire to rebuild Free State rugby drove the move, with his Springbok recall coming on the back of injuries to Reinach, Hendrikse and Van den Berg.
What Bordeaux's Champions Cup demolition of Leinster means for SA's URC finals hopes
Rich uses Bordeaux's physical demolition of Leinster as a lens on SA's URC finals prospects — arguing the Stormers cost themselves and their SA counterparts dearly by failing to secure second place, while flagging a scrumhalf depth problem that extends beyond the URC and straight into Erasmus's Bok planning.
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
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Springbok Recall! Relive Phepsi Buthelezi's 2025/26 Season
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Scrumhalf injury crises hit both Boks and England ahead of Nations Cup opener
With the Boks potentially without Reinach, Williams, Hendrikse and Van den Bergh, and England sweating on Mitchell, Rich examines the scrumhalf crises facing both sides ahead of the 4 July Nations Cup opener — and who might fill the void for the Boks if the depth chart keeps thinning.