Springbok coach Allister Coetzee's rookies stood up well to the rigours of Test rugby in the recently completed series against France, as the Boks ran out three-nil victors on home soil.
KweséESPN examines the greenhorns' contributions in the whitewash of the French.
Andries Coetzee
The Lions fullback was one of the Springboks' top players during the series. He set up two tries in the first Test in Pretoria with some incisive running from the back. His speed, straight running, and match awareness at fullback has also given the Boks a new dimension on attack. He also showed a lot of maturity and a level head when he was put under pressure, while he also kicked well, which took some pressure off flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
Courtnall Skosan
Unfortunately the ball didn't come to his way too often, like with Rhule, as the Boks didn't create enough attacking chances for their wide men to have a crack. But Skosan's work-rate and work off the ball was really impressive in the three Tests. The Lions left wing was also solid defensively and didn't make a lot of mistakes. The Boks need to find ways to get Skosan on the ball, because he is a dangerous finisher.
Raymond Rhule
The right wing didn't have a lot of chances to show off his attacking ability, but when the Boks did bring him into the game, he brought energy and go-forward with ball in hand. However, his defending is still a major concern for the Boks heading into the Rugby Championship. The Ghana-born player missed a lot of one-on-one tackles, which could be disastrous against the attacking talents of New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia.
Dillyn Leyds
Leyds was unlucky not to get a start in at least one of the Test matches. The Stormers star can play in a number of positions on the backline, but replaced Rhule at right wing late in the game in all three Tests. That being said, experiencing the Springbok culture and having a taste of international rugby is going to give him a lot of confidence, and build a strong desire to show, in the remaining Super Rugby matches, that he can start for the Boks.
Jean-Luc du Preez
The no-nonsense loose forward, who had already played 20 minutes against Wales in November, is another man whose stocks skyrocketed over the last month. The Sharks loose forward, who came into the squad for the injured Duane Vermeulen, got his big chance when he replaced Oupa Mohoje, who suffered concussion, early in the second Test. Du Preez impressed with his physicality in Durban, as he made strong carries and brutal tackles. However, his shortcomings as a lineout option were slightly exposed in the third Test in Johannesburg.
Ruan Dreyer
The tighthead only played in the one Test in Joburg, and produced a bit of a mixed bag. He won a penalty with his first scrum of the match, before finding himself on the wrong end of the referee's whistle. His work-rate, however, is really good for a tighthead, and he made a great pass in the lead-up to Jesse Kriel's try at Ellis Park. The Boks' prop stocks are looking really good, and Dreyer will certainly push Frans Malherbe and Coenie Oosthuizen all the way as they head into the Rugby Championship.