Jasper Wiese has locked down the Springboks’ No 8 jersey over the past couple of seasons, proving a worthy successor to Duane Vermeulen. But a World Cup defence needs depth, and Cameron Hanekom is quickly becoming the answer.
Filling a depth gap
Not long ago, the Boks had to move the likes of Kwagga Smith and even Siya Kolisi to No 8 when cover was needed. Hanekom has changed that picture. After coming back from a serious hamstring injury, the 24-year-old has already played in five Tests this year and has impressed each time he has been called on.
A man-of-the-match performance for the Bulls
Last weekend, Hanekom was the standout in the Bulls’ 57-15 United Rugby Championship win over the Lions at Loftus Versfeld. He was a dominant physical presence and scored two tries while the Bulls made the most of a numerical advantage. One of them came after a strong hand-off, finishing a run that began at halfway. He also made 76 metres with ball in hand and completed nine tackles, a showing that should have caught Rassie Erasmus’s eye.
What lies ahead
The Springboks soon leave on an end-of-year tour as part of the Nations Championship, facing Italy, France and Ireland, plus one more opponent at the end of November. It is a natural chance to give Hanekom more game time and rest Wiese, as the team manages its squad carefully on the road to defending the World Cup title in 2027.
