Bok Watch – Seven players who are running hot
Two Stormers, four Bulls and one Shark made a Test statement at the weekend and were pivotal to the three respective South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship wins, writes Mark Keohane.
My top three were Damian Willemse in the Stormers win against Connacht, Ethan Hooker’s in the Sharks great escape and Cameron Hanekom in the history-making Bulls win in Limerick. They were performances to make every Springboks supporter smile.
There were others who are timing their run into the play-offs and Test season with precision.
Willemse has been tortured with injury in the past 12 months, but whenever he has returned, even for a few cameo matches, he has stamped his authority on matches. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was brilliant on attack for his three tries in the first 25 minutes, and his try assist pass was breathtaking. There is no doubt that, if fit, he starts the Test season as Bok flyhalf. His Stormers teammate Willemse also gave a reminder of his class.
Willemse is the youngest double World Cup winner and he has the ability to play fullback, outside and inside centre, and flyhalf. He would not be out of place if asked to do a wing role. He would probably make a fist of it wearing the No 9 jersey. He can also kick points.
I prefer him the most as a No 12, but many believe 10 to be his natural position while it is at 15 where he has won international acclaim with the Boks.
He will be critical to the Stormers in the final month of league play in the Vodacom United Rugby Championships and pivotal to the Springboks match 23 composition, in a starting or finishing role. He was massive this past Saturday.
Willemse and Sacha FM were the two obvious individual standouts in the Stormers effort, when thinking Springboks in 2025.
Bulls breach Munster’s fortress
The Bulls in Limerick became the first South African team to beat Munster in any competition at Thomond Park. It was an impressive return for Jake White’s Bulls, just a week after they stumbled against Edinburgh in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals. Hanekom, of the current Springboks, made a statement that the flash comes with ferocity, at the breakdown in turnovers, and also with his carries. He has no issue tackling and was second only to captain and seasoned former Bok loose-forward Marcel Coetzee, who made a remarkable 30 tackles in the 16-13 win.
Hanekom is playing himself into the Springboks starting No 8 position, especially with Jasper Wiese sidelined for an indefinite period. Canan Moodie, on the right wing, is a point of difference every time he plays and lock Ruan Nortje looks like the natural successor to Franco Mostert, in terms of his engine size and second row play. Jan-Hendrick Wessels, starting at loosened prop, is also poised for an international breakthrough year, in the guise of a loosened who also plays a lot at hooker.
Talking of hooker, Sharks winger Ethan Hooker is a favourite of mine because he is just so good. His try-saving tackle saved the Sharks the blushes of defeat against Edinburgh and his versatility and size make him an option on either wing or at No 13 or No 12.
