There is nothing worse than being called up to represent your country in the game you love and then being reduced to water-boy.
That has happened to a number of players currently in the Springbok setup and ahead of their match against Australia in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, coach Rassie Erasmus has to seriously think about giving some of his fringe players a run in the Green and Gold jumper.
You often get to hear about the time spent rubbing shoulders with the big players and how they will get the youngsters ready for the big time.
But to be ready for the step up, you actually have to see what it’s about.
In the case of Embrose Papier, it certainly looks like he is the new Rudy Paige in the Bok team.
With three caps to his name, Papier must be moeg of waiting on the sidelines for his chance in the No.9 jumper.
As it stands, Faf de Klerk is the number one choice in this position. And rightly so.
But to date, Erasmus does not have a tried-and-tested back-up option that will be confident starting a match against New Zealand in two weeks’ time at Loftus if De Klerk can’t make it.
Then there’s Sikhumbuzo Notshe with four caps to his name.
He was involved in the match-day 23 when England toured South Africa, but has not yet added to his caps since then.
If Notshe does get a run, Erasmus should look at Marco van Staden as well.
With captain Siya Kolisi again operating at openside flank instead of blindside, the Boks don’t have a natural fetcher in the loose trio department.
Van Staden might be the go-to guy for this.
Having made his debut against Argentina, he would like nothing more than to stop carrying water and get involved.
Perhaps the most interesting player of the lot is hooker Schalk Brits, who hasn’t played a game of rugby since coming on as a replacement against England at Newlands in June.
Having actually retired from rugby at the end of the last northern hemisphere season, Brits doesn’t have a club or a province and it will be interesting to see when, and if, Erasmus is going to give him a run.
If building is what the Boks are aiming for and New Zealand the measurement of their performance as a group, then the perfect time to give these travel buddies a run is this week in PE against a weak Wallabies outfit.