Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber will back their tried and tested in naming the Springbok squad to defend the World Cup, but space must be made for flyhalf Manie Libbok, writes Mark Keohane.

Libbok started in the win against the Pumas in Buenos Aires, in the first of three World Cup warm-up matches for the Boks, and the 33-man contingent going to the tournament in France is set to be unveiled on Tuesday.

In his TimesLIVE column, Keohane insists that the injured Handre Pollard remains the preferred starting 10, and like skipper Siya Kolisi, the 2019 World Cup winner is expected to board the plane despite concerns over his fitness.

The versatile Damian Willemse has served as Pollard’s backup, starting six Tests at flyhalf in 2022 and again against the All Blacks this year, but Keohane argues for the inclusion of Libbok at the expense of inside centre Andre Esterhuizen.

“The counter to Libbok’s selection is that he is a luxury if Pollard and Willemse are fit,” he writes. “Libbok is viewed primarily as a specialist 10, whereas Pollard is a 10 who the national coaches believe can slot in at 12. Willemse is also rated good enough to play in a 10 and 12 Test jersey.

“I’d want Libbok there and build an attack around his natural qualities, which are very different to those of Pollard. Andre Esterhuizen is a one-position specialist and I would sacrifice him to accommodate Libbok.”

Keohane expects the final squad makeup to be influenced by the forwards and backs split, with a likely 19/14 – similar to the 17/14 split chosen by Erasmus, then head coach and now director of rugby, that won South Africa the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan four years ago.

He writes: “A handful of players will not be selected because of the balance of forwards and backs. It won’t be because of a lack of belief in their respective ability, especially among the forwards and primarily the loose forwards.

“There are many good loose forwards who will be overlooked because the final selection will be balanced to accommodate frontline specialists and those who can provide utility cover and versatility in playing more than one position.”

Keo’s Bok World Cup squad:

Forwards (19)
Props: (6) Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit.
Hookers: (3) Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Joseph Dweba.
Locks: (4) Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Lood de Jager.
Loose forwards: (4) Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese.
Utility forwards: (2) Pieter-Steph du Toit, Franco Mostert.

Backs (14)
Outside backs: (5) Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi.
Centres: (3) Damian de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel.
Flyhalves: (2)Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok.
Scrumhalves: (3) Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach.
Utility back: (1) Damian Willemse.