The Springboks coveted bomb squad exploded on the scene during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. So, where are they all now?
WHERE THE ORIGINAL SPRINGBOKS BOMB SQUAD IS?
The original Springboks bomb squad consisted of Malcolm Marx/Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Vinent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies and Francois Steyn.
Many of these players are no longer playing. Meanwhile, some of them have fallen down the Bok pecking order under Rassie Erasmus in recent seasons.
Marx and Mbonambi have been rotated equally over the past few seasons. However, Marx has been in top form and has started regularly in 2025.
Unfortunately, Kitshoff, Louw and Steyn have all retired. Kitshoff was forced into early retirement due to a neck injury. Meanwhile, Louw and Steyn recently hang up their Bok boots.
So, at 36, Koch is likely entering the latter stages of his career. Meanwhile, Jantjies has fallen far down the pecking order.
Meanwhile, both Koch and Jantjies are still playing. However, they have both fallen down the Springboks pecking order. Koch has played second fiddle to the likes of Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrick Wessels during the 2025 Test season. Additionally, Gerhard Steenakamp is set to return to the squad at the end of the year.
Herschel Jantjies sits behind the likes of Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse and Morne van den Berg.
FROM POWER TO POWER AS SOUTH AFRICAN BENCH EVOLVES
The 6-2 split policy was implemented by Rassie Erasmus during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
With six forwards and two backs utilised off the bench. They earned the nickname the ‘Bomb squad‘ for their explosive firepower and impact off the bench.
After all, bringing on the United Rugby Championship Player of the Season, ‘The Viking‘, a.ka. Snyman, is no small feat – literally. The towering Bok lock stands at 2.06m tall and is one of several imposing figures the opposition has to face in the second half after a massive physical onslaught by the Springboks forwards in the first half.
He is usually joined by Mbonambi, Wilco Louw (all 140kg+), Lood de Jager/Mostert and Marco van Staden on the new-look Bok bench.
However, the traditional ‘Bomb squad‘ has hardly been utilised by Rassie Erasmus this year with the Boks predominantly opting for a 5-3 split this season. This formula has worked wonders with the Springboks succusfully defending their Rugby Championship crown en route to reclaiming top spot in the latest world rugby rankings.
