Over the last couple of seasons, Jasper Wiese has established himself as the Springboks’ unequivocal first-choice No 8, having proven to be an ideal successor to Duane Vermeulen.
It is a position, however, where there has been a need to develop some depth, and the good news is that there has been some real progress made in this regard.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the likes of Kwagga Smith and even Siya Kolisi had to fill in at No 8, but in recent times Cameron Hanekom has emphatically put up his hand for more consistent game time.
Cameron Hanekom firmly on the Springbok road map
After overcoming a devastating hamstring injury, the 24-year-old has already featured in five Tests this year, and he has consistently impressed when receiving this exposure.
Just this past weekend, Hanekom put in a standout, man-of-the-match performance for the Bulls in their 57-15 demolition of the Lions in the United Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld.
The burly No 8 was a dominant physical presence, scoring two crucial tries during a blistering period when the Bulls capitalised on a numerical advantage. His standout moment included a powerful hand-off to canter in for a score after a stunning run from the halfway line.
In total, he made 76 metres with ball in hand and completed nine tackles in another performance that will certainly have caught the eye of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.
Key Tests ahead
The Springboks will soon head off on a new-look end-of-year tour as part of the Nations Championship tournament, which will see them face Italy, France and Ireland as well as one final opponent at the end of November.
It could provide a perfect opportunity for Hanekom to receive more game time, while also affording Wiese some rest as the Springboks continue to manage their squad carefully in the lead up to the 2027 World Cup title defence.