When the Springboks embark on the next four-year World Cup cycle, they will need to find worthy successors for a number of players.

The Springboks have won two World Cup championships, a British & Irish Lions series, and one Rugby Championship between 2019 and 2023.

The last four years have been amazing, solidifying the Boks’ place in the annals of “Cup” history.

But with several players already entering their later years of play and Duane Vermeulen having declared his retirement, there will definitely be a changing of the guard during the upcoming four-year cycle.

There are seven players on the 2023 World Cup winning team who most likely won’t make it to another major international tournament: When the World Cup comes around, these players will be 37 years old: Makazole Mapimpi, Cobus Reinach, Willie le Roux, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Koch, Deon Fourie, 41, and retired Duane Vermeulen.

Players like Faf de Klerk, Damian de Allende, Jessse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Kwagga Smith may all be past their prime when one considers the age at which other players will also be competing in the next World Cup.

How things could look for the Springboks between now and 2027:

Ages at 2027 RWC of current Springbok backs: 9: Faf de Klerk 35 / Jaden Hendrikse 27 / Grant Williams 31; 10: Handre Pollard 33 / Manie Libbok 30; 11: Cheslin Kolbe 33, 12: Damian de Allende 34 / Andre Esterhuizen 33; 13: Jessse Kriel 33 / Lukhanyo Am 33, Canan Moodie 23; 14: Kurt-Lee Arendse 31; 15: Damian Willemse 29

Ages at 2027 RWC of current Springbok forwards: 1: Steven Kitshoff 35 / Ox Nche 32; 2: Bongi Mbonambi 36 / Malcolm Marx 33, 3: Frans Malherbe 36 / Vincent Koch 37, 4: Eben Etzebeth 35 / RG Snyman 32, 5: Franco Mostert 35 / Jean Kleyn 34 / Marvin Orie 34, 6: Siya Kolisi 36 / Marco van Staden 32, 7: Pieter-Steph du Toit 35 / 8: Jasper Wiese 31 / Kwagga Smith 34

It certainly makes for interesting reading, and does highlight how there will need to be a changing of the guard in the next couple of years.