Springbok Squad Analysis: The New Faces to Watch

The preliminary Nations Championship squad reads like a balance sheet: experience in the spine, energy on the edges, and six uncapped players who've forced their way in on form.

Six uncapped players in a squad of 36. That's Rassie betting on the future without sacrificing the present.

The new names

Jordan Horn's try-scoring form for the Stormers made his inclusion inevitable. At hooker, the competition between Grobbelaar and the incumbent will sharpen everyone. In the second row, a new face adds lineout options the Boks haven't had since Lood de Jager's peak.

What it means tactically

More pace on the wings means the Boks can play wider earlier — expect more 15-man rugby when conditions allow. The bench remains the weapon: 8-7 split with a 6-2 forward split on the bench is still the default.