Trevor Cramer plays Bok selector
Allister Coetzee has taken the hottest potato in South African sport in a transition phase, as the veterans of the 2015 World Cup campaign begin winding down their careers and building their foreign currency reserves by plying their trade overseas. Trevor Cramer puts his selectors cap on and picks a Bok squad.
But he is unlikely to start sweeping clean and I anticipate very few surprises when he names his Springbok squad for the coming three-Test home series against Ireland.
Some really decent players in their prime have also already chosen the lucrative European and Japanese leagues above Super Rugby and an increasing number are still being linked to big-spending overseas clubs.
World Rugby regulations are pretty clear though - Clubs are obliged to release their players for the World Rugby June Test window.
There are also a number of potential 15-man Springbok contenders, like Seabelo Sonatla, Francois Hougaard, Warwick Gelant and Juan de Jongh who may take the Olympic route this year and leaving them out of the range of Coetzee's selection radar, while others are part of Neil Powell's extended training squad.
Coetzee has made it clear that he is still keen on casting his net as wide as possible and won't only select in-form locally based Super Rugby players.
Like it or not, there are still a few very useful rugby 'pensioners' lurking in Europe or Japan, but one has to bear in mind that Coetzee needs to see way beyond the Ireland Series or this year's Rugby Championship.
Like it or not, after Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula's recent punitive measures against SA Rugby, transformation lobbyists and politicians on the election trail will be counting the number of black players in the squad. Coetzee's track record in that regard, however, is good and he is sensitive to transformation goals and targets.
Coetzee will also have to select a captain, bearing in mind it may not be a temporary measure for the incoming tour by Ireland, but an individual who - barring serious injury - may be equipped, along with the new Bok mentor's management team, to take the Boks through the four year cycle to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Francois Louw, who plies his trade with Bath in the UK, makes my squad and is being touted in many quarters as a potential captain.
Duane Vermeulen (Toulon, France) is another candidate for the role and his previous association with Coetzee at the Stormers may give him the advantage. Toulon, however, may still fall foul of World Rugby as they are still reluctant to release the tough back rower.
Locally, Adriaan Strauss and Warren Whiteley have both led the Bulls and the Lions admirably this term and should deservedly be in with a shout, dependent on how big Coetzee is on rewarding loyalty.
And who knows, with Sharks skipper Patrick Lambie back to full fitness and now likely to get a start in Jantjies' absence, he might also be an option.
Then there's the flyhalf headache. The Lions injury list following their comfortable victory over the Jaguares last weekend has claimed Elton Jantjies, who is ruled out for at least 4-6 weeks with a fractured finger.
The name of Racing's utility back Johan Goosen has popped back into the hat, while Francois Steyn may have wanted to re-think his decision not to play international rugby if Coetzee has been on a long distance call to him recently.
On form, Jan Serfontein and Lionel Mapoe are my preferred centre combination, with Damien de Allende also still trying to regain the form that catapulted him into the limelight last season.
There is never a quick fix plug for a Bryan Habana, but I think Lwazi Mvovo has put his hand up this season, while JP Pietersen hasn't quite set the world on fire, but his experience and rugby brain remains invaluable.
The scrumhalf options are slightly limited but Faf de Klerk has by a long shot been the most impressive this season. As back up, I would still have gone with Cobus Reinach, but he's out with a serious knee injury. Loftus would then be my next port of call and a knock on Rudy Paige's door.
Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph Du Toit seem the likeliest lock combination, although Etzebeth is just back from injury and still lacking a yard or two. It's raining flankers and it would appear there are no headaches there.
My newcomers, who simply cannot be ignored based on Super Rugby form, are Jaco Kriel, Ruan Combrinck, Franco Mostert, dark horse RG Snyman, who might rather get a shot in the SA-A side against the England Saxons, the exceptionally talented Jean-Luc Du Preez and even Malcolm Marx and Julian Redelinghuys, while Warren Whitely's on-field contribution as well as leadership skills cannot be ignored.
It stands to reason then that as Currie Cup champions and arguably the most formidable South African Super Rugby side at present, the Lions should be producing far more Springbok players.
Springbok selectors - Over to you!
My Springbok line-up (based on a 30-man training squad): Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pieresen, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Damien de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Patrick Lambie, Johan Goosen/Francois Steyn, Faf de Klerk, Rudy Paige, Duane Vermeulen, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Peter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Louw, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Warren Whiteley, Jean-Luc du Preez, Frans Malherbe, Adriaan Strauss, Malcolm Marx, Trevor Nyakane, Beast Mtawarira, Julian Redelinghuys.