How about Pat Lambie as Springbok captain?

The two frontrunners might be Duane Vermeulen and Adriaan Strauss, but it’s an open secret that SA Rugby would prefer its captain to be locally-based – a good thing – and Strauss isn’t a guaranteed selection.

There’s also no certainty that Vermeulen will even make the trip to SA on account of the rantings of Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal.

The appointment will only be short-term – for the three-Test series against Ireland – and with Elton Jantjies out injured, the potential for awkwardness is quietly relegated. With Jantjies crocked, Lambie is bound to start, notwithstanding the whispers that have Racing’s Johan Goosen in the mix.

It might be a left-field call, but Lambie has much going for him. He’s young, articulate, intelligent and much admired by supporters and players alike. Capped 50 times, he’s no alpha male and wouldn’t be a mouthy captain, but he’s switched on tactically and would give the senior players around him their freedom.

Lambie was appointed Sharks captain for the season and although he’s spent much of it in the doctor’s room, he evidently held appeal for Gary Gold and his staff.

He’s also ice-cool on the field, as we saw when he clinched victory with a sensational kick against the All Blacks two years ago. He did the same against the Jaguares in Argentina just the other day.

It’s that sort of steel you want from your captain.

There is strong precedent for a flyhalf as Bok captain, although you must go back almost 25 years to when Naas Botha last did the job, in 1992. The greatest match-winner in Springbok history was a first-rate choice.

Positionally, flyhalves are also well placed, linking both the forwards and the backs and lending a greater perspective than a hooker or loose forward might enjoy.

We’ll know soon enough. This weekend Allister Coetzee names his first Bok squad – live on SS1 just after 7pm Saturday.