Frans feeling the pressure from Wilco, Thomas and Asenathi for Bok No.3 jersey

Ashfak Mohamed

Frans Malherbe is a man of few words, and likes to do his talking on a rugby pitch.

The gentle giant from Bredasdorp has certainly done that during an illustrious career for the Springboks and Stormers, which includes two Rugby World Cup triumphs and the 2022 United Rugby Championship trophy – as well as a 2015 World Cup bronze medal.

For me, Malherbe’s finest moment came in the 2019 World Cup final against England in Yokohama. England suffered an early blow in the front row when their No.3, Kyle Sinckler, was knocked out after a collision with Maro Itoje, and was replaced by Dan Cole.

Malherbe and Tendai Mtawarira feasted on Mako Vunipola and Cole for over 40 minutes, winning a series of scrum penalties, and then Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch continued the carnage in the second half.

I had the privilege of interviewing Malherbe after the final, and while he again didn’t have to say much, his broad smile said it all.

Four years later, Malherbe was at it again, this time playing 65 minutes in the final against the All Blacks in Paris, standing strong in the scrums and making an astounding 15 tackles – with the only other Boks to make more than him being Pieter-Steph du Toit (28), Deon Fourie (20) and Franco Mostert (16).

Now the 33-year-old stands on 76 Test caps, and deserves to at least reach his 100 over the next two seasons, leading up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

But should he still be the first-choice Bok tighthead this year?

He has been hampered by a chronic back issue since the last World Cup, and has also had periods on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, which kept him out of last November’s Bok tour to Europe.

Malherbe returned for the Stormers in Champions Cup action last December, and featured off the bench in their last two games against Racing 92 and Leinster, with Neethling Fouché wearing the No.3 jersey.

There are a number of classy contenders pushing hard to edge out Malherbe for the Boks. Top of that list has to be Bulls powerhouse Wilco Louw, who started for the world champions against England and Wales last November.

The 30-year-old Louw has been a rock for the Pretoria side this season since returning from English club Harlequins, and has forced his way back into the Bok picture.

He also puts himself about around the field, especially in defence, and is a big unit who usually dominates his opponents in the scrums.

The other experienced option is Thomas du Toit, who started for the Boks against Scotland last November and has been outstanding as a captain for English club Bath as well.

Still only 29, Du Toit has had to be patient throughout his international career due to Malherbe’s presence – as well as Vincent Koch – and has only 23 Tests to show for it. So, is it his time to shine? Du Toit has a knack for scoring tries too, and is a willing ball-carrier and quite agile for someone at 1.90m and 136kg. Koch has been Malherbe’s main understudy for a number of years, and has reached 50 Test caps. But at 34, is he going to make it to the 2027 World Cup?

One of the young guns that cannot be ignored any longer either is the Lions’ dynamic Asenathi Ntlabakanye.

Just 25, the No.3 is an all-action figure whose work-rate belies his 153kg frame. Ntlabakanye is as ruthless as a ball-carrier and tackler as he is in the scrums, and is lethal when cleaning out rucks too.

Surely he must make his Test debut against Italy or Georgia in July?

But the big games of the Rugby Championship are the two All Black Tests in New Zealand, and the likes of Louw and Koch could use the upcoming SA URC derbies to state their case to Bok coach Rassie Erasmus once more that they should be wearing the No.3 jersey in 2025.