Rassie’s radar | Damian De Allende the gold standard as André Esterhuizen stakes his claim

At one stage, it looked as though the specialised No 12 jersey for the Springboks would be hard to fill when Damian de Allende eventually hangs up his boots.

However, a handful of local players have firmly put their hands up to take over the torch should the double World Cup winner retire after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

We look at four players vying for the inside centre jersey as De Allende continues to set the standard.

André Esterhuizen (Sharks)

He will probably be the go-to guy in 2026 if Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus decides to use his premier inside centre sparingly. Used as a utility back for most of his Bok career, Esterhuizen stepped out of the shadow of De Allende the past couple of seasons in terms of his Bok role and is equally comfortable starting as the bulldozer. His prowess as a hybrid player makes him one of the crucial players for South Africa.

Jonathan Roché (Stormers)

The 23-year-old has been in the sights of Erasmus and his management and attended a virtual alignment camp last season. Although he is behind the likes of Damian Willemse and Ruhan Nel in the Stormers’ pecking order, with the chances he’s had, Roche took his opportunities. An injury plagued him this season, but he returned with his trademark hard running lines and strong defence, especially against Esterhuizen, to catch the eye again.

David Kriel (Bulls)

Another utility player who can adapt to the position that he is asked to perform in. The 26-year-old is a no-nonsense runner with the ball under his arm, but he can also double up as a second flyhalf. Kriel possesses a long kicking boot, distributes the ball well, and can arrange the defensive wall in the midfield – traits that will be welcomed in the Bok setup.

Bronson Mills (Lions)

After being on the outskirts of the side behind a couple of players, Mills (22) added another dimension to the Lions’ backline on attack and defence this season. He can run strongly with the ball, but his soft skills, including his kicks, are a big asset. Mills had a tough time defensively against the Bulls, but his never-say-die attitude saw him score the final try.

Damian de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights)

De Allende will be the standard that the contenders will be measured against. He remains world-class when it comes to reading a game, on defence and attack. Under attack coach Tony Brown, he added small nuances to his game that are taking the Boks’ No 12 jersey to greater heights. His absence will be felt in the future.