Willemse may be the only 15 in the Bok squad, but who else can fulfill that role?

The Springbok squad announcement for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour to Europe may have raised a few eyebrows with who was left out, and who was put in, but the one aspect that has gone a bit unnoticed is the confidence the Boks have in their options at fullback without the likes of Aphelele Fassi and Willie le Roux on tour.

While Fassi is still injured, and Le Roux is slowly heading into the Bok sunset, allowing a new generation of players to stake their claim, the Boks seem to only have named Damian Willemse - at first glance - as the only option at 15.

Willemse is, of course, not just a 15 and is a versatile utility back that can play at 10 and 12 as well, and possibly anywhere in the backline.

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus names his Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour 🇿🇦

Stormers prop Zachary Porthen is the only uncapped player to be included in the squad, while a number of players have been named on a standby list 🚨#SSRugby | #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/qWTxAElkQr

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 20, 2025

But in the context of the current squad, he is quite possibly the best option for 15, and nobody needs reminding that the Boks won a World Cup with him at 15.

Outside Willemse, however, the Boks are blessed with a number of utility backs, versatile in their approach and able to be swiss army knived into a position that isn’t normally what you would associate them with.

This, coupled with the success the Boks had in defending their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, shows that selecting one fullback isn’t really a crisis for the current Bok management, nor would the odd experiment be out of place.

So let’s have a look at the possibilities for the fullback role should Willemse not fill it, be moved to 12 or 10 for a game or in any other possibility.

SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU

South Africa’s shooting star, the hero of Durban and the name on everyone’s lips at the moment is the obvious candidate to take over the 15 role if the Boks need him to.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu has slotted into the fifteen role before and is likely to do it again - expect it to happen when coach Rassie Erasmus looks to give either Manie Libbok or Handre Pollard a run at 10.

The thing with Feinberg-Mngomezulu is that he is a superb talent, a potential generational player and most coaches with that sort of player in their side will tell you one thing. They want him on the field at all times.

So it wouldn’t be a far-fetched idea to have him there for the Boks, and it is more than likely the first choice back-up plan for Willemse.

CHESLIN KOLBE

Again we ask ourselves, is there anything that Cheslin can’t do? The fleet-footed magician has scored tries that have taken our breath away, has flummoxed defences and often punches above his own size and weight against the best in the world.

It isn’t a surprise that Bok captain Siya Kolisi calls Kolbe “the GOAT” and says he is his favourite player. Kolbe stepped up to the kicking duties when it was required in the World Cup and can easily slot in at 15.

That would even give the Boks the option of a scrumcap back three with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. All fast, all powerful and it could be devastating.

KURT-LEE ARENDSE

Arendse played 15 early on in his career and even at the Bulls and while he is more accustomed to scoring tries on the wing, he could slot into the 15 role if needed by the Boks.

A supreme attacker, and a superb defender, KLA has not played international rugby since the Wallaby test at Ellis Park because of injury but has been selected and is expected to play a role on the tour. Who knows? It could even be at 15.

EDWILL VAN DER MERWE

Could there have been method in the Sharks’ madness? Edwill van der Merwe has been playing 15 for the Sharks in recent weeks and it wouldn’t be surprising that this could be to help the national squad out?

While there has been no suggestion that a request came from the Bok management, Van der Merwe’s penchant for scoring tries suggests he is another player you would want on the field. He has an impressive points scoring record and it wouldn’t be a massive surprise should he be deployed there.

CANAN MOODIE

One of the more intriguing possibilities is Moodie at 15. A tall winger, who has publicly said he loves playing 13, Moody seems more destined to come into the midfield than at the back, but what about the possibility? He has a decent foot, has the size and speed to make it and is good under the high ball. Positionally he may have to adapt a lot but the idea has been spoken about for a few years now, and perhaps it may be left field, but who knows?

There are a lot of other ideas that coach Rassie Erasmus may have. Manie Libbok has played 15 as well, and there are other players who could slot in there. But for the Boks the fullback isn’t only the last line of defence, he is the second playmaker as well, and in this regard it will be very interesting to see who the Boks line-up with during the tour.

And what new exciting possibilities there may be.