The results are in, and SARugbymag.co.za readers have picked Frans Steyn as the ideal Springbok fullback should Willie le Roux be unavailable for the decider against the British & Irish Lions.
In the first episode of ‘The War Room’, Mark Keohane and Zelim Nel huddled to discuss a fullback crisis for the Springboks in the British & Irish Lions series.
As part of the discussion, it was debated who the Springboks’ best option would be should incumbent Le Roux suffer an injury during the upcoming Lions tour or be unavailable for selection.
ALSO READ: Sexton, Duhan snubbed in McGeechan’s Lions squad
The question was opened up to SARugbymag.co.za readers and, of the eight options available, 31% decided that Bok veteran Steyn should take Le Roux’s place in the starting lineup.
With 67 Test caps to his name, Steyn was the most experienced option on the list and is the only potential fullback option to have faced the Lions when they last toured South Africa in 2009.
At the other end of the spectrum, 23-year-old Aphelele Fassi, who is awaiting his first Test cap after firing for the Sharks over the past couple of years, was next favoured with 22% of the vote. Other favourites as the backup No 15 included the Lions’ Tiaan Swanepoel (16,85%) and Stormers utility back Damian Willemse (14,08%).
Somewhat surprisingly, experienced players in Gio Aplon (5,14%) and Dillyn Leyds (4,41%), received less than 10% of the vote, despite their good form for the Vodacom Bulls and La Rochelle, respectively.
Photo: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images
