It’s been a tough few months. You head off to a gathering of friends and you find the guys aimlessly standing around avoiding eye contact and staring through awkward silences. The weather has been discussed in minute detail and the “so how’s work?” questions have been brushed aside with perfunctory effectiveness. Then you stand around making small talk.

Super Rugby gets underway in earnest this weekend and at a birthday gathering last night I saw the familiar old twinkle in the eye of the lads and some animation coming back into conversation. Cagey bits of information about Superbru picks were swapped, hopes for our respective sides this season were analysed and, inevitably, the topic of Springbok selection came up. Early days, for sure, but rugby fans will be rugby fans. Okes can’t talk about fellings and emoticons, so it was great to really be able to ‘chat’ again.

My recent piece on the positives of Nic Groom’s selection for the Stomers and his Springbok chances fired things up another level.

It gave me the idea to have a look at the fifteen players in action this weekend that I’ll be watching closely. It’s a mixed bag of uncapped players, bit-part Boks and established Test players. All of them have something to prove this season if they’ve got Springbok aspirations.

First up, let’s start with the eight forwards to put on “Bok Watch”.

 1. Steven Kitshoff

Incredibly young for a prop, but already battle-hardened for the Stormers and decorated at age group level. The fiery-haired loosehead is surely destined for the Green and Gold, but when? I think it could be sooner, rather than later, for the 21-year-old.

 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle

It’s crazy to think that Ralepelle is only 26-years-old. He’s been around that long. The Bulls hooker has battled injuries and often found himself playing second-fiddle at franchise and Test level, but he’s starting for the Bulls this weekend and needs a massive season to jump-start his stalled Bok career.

 3. Coenie Oosthuizen

Jannie du Plessis has entrenched himself as the first-choice Bok tighthead, but it’s not a position where the Boks are blessed with great depth. Pat Cilliers will be pushing after his move to the Cape while Oosthuizen needs to show he’s comfortable at Super Rugby in that key position and prove his injury troubles are behind him. At full tilt he’s the most exciting front ranker in the land.

 4. Pieter-Steph du Toit

The big youngster comes with a big reputation from the age-group ranks and will need to force his way into the Sharks team before pushing for a place in the Boks. With Heyneke Meyer a known admirer of the mobile du Toit, there will be plenty of eyes on his progress. We haven’t seen enough of him at the top level – so he’s got a task ahead to prove himself.

5. Anton Bresler 

If there was a South African team of the year picked for 2012 you’d probably find Bresler’s name alongside Eben Etzebeth in the second row. Rising from virtual obscurity, he impressed many with his tireless work rate for the Sharks.  Another season like the one he had last year and they’ll start whispering his name when it comes to Bok selection.

6. Marcel Coetzee

The ‘second season blues’ is a common phenomenon in sport as the opposition work you out and you have to deal with the added pressure of expectation. Coetzee couldn’t have dreamed of a better year in 2012 where he starred for the Sharks and the Boks. Things will only get tougher this time out. There’s no more fiercely contested spot in the Springbok team than loose-forward and that means he’ll need to fire right from the start.

7. Siya Kolisi

Another youngster to explode onto the scene last year, many felt Kolisi was harshly overlooked initially by the Bok coach. He’s definitely got a Springbok future – the question is just when. They don’t hand Bok jerseys out for free, but another season like the one he had in 2012 and they’ll be knocking on his door.

8. Luke Watson

What would this list be without the controversial figure of Luke Watson? In all likelihood Duane Vermuelen and Pierre Spies are battling it out for the Bok number eight jersey, but Watson will grab attention and headlines as he has throughout his career. I think it’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to shine behind a Kings pack that will battle with the demands of Super Rugby, but I’ve been wrong before!

There you have it – that’s the pack of underdogs for Bok selection. Which forwards are you watching?

Check in next week for the round up of backs to watch this Super Rugby season.

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Check out last week’s column on Oscar Pistorius by Gareth, HERE.

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