The Bulls’ Jan-Hendrik Wessels goes on the charge in a Champions Cup match against Lyon. FILE - The Bulls’ Jan-Hendrik Wessels goes on the charge in a Champions Cup match against Lyon. Wessels will make his debut for the Springboks in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP
Lot’s of eyebrows were raised when the Springboks picked four scrumhalves and just two recognised hookers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
That decision seemed to backfire when Malcolm Marx’s tournament ended prematurely with a season-ending knee injury. But instead of calling up another hooker, the Boks called up flyhalf Handre Pollard into the squad.
The rest, as we know, is history, as Pollard kicked the Springboks to World Cup glory while veteran flank Deon Fourie put in one of the great performances off the bench in a World Cup final at hooker with only one properly functioning shoulder.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus likes players who can thrive in multiple positions on a rugby field. It’s why some of the four scrumhlaves featured at flyhalf and wing during the World Cup in France.
On Saturday, Erasmus will blood a new fresh face against Portugal, who can play both loosehead prop and hooker, with Erasmus already mentioning that option ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Monster Hit from Jan Hendrik Wessels 💥 More of this tonight 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gYQEROjRMX
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) April 29, 2023
Jan-Hendrik Wessels will pack down at loosehead in the Springboks in the one-off Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein after being identified as a special talent when he was still in the school benches at Grey College, a stones throw away from where he will make his Bok debut at the Free State Stadium.
“He is somebody that we are really excited about. Come a World Cup, you might not take five props, you can take four hookers because a guy like him can swing both sides,” said Erasmus
“We are going to play him prop this weekend where he is comfortable. He came through our EPD [Early Player Development] systems.”
It’s will definitely be a lot more challenging for Wessels to move around the front row in different positions at international level than it was at schoolboy level.
But the Bulls man is working with some of the best scrum minds in the business at the Boks, and this weekend he has just one job to look forward to.
“I think at school it’s not that difficult to move around. I played prop a bit after school, played hooker and then prop again,” said Wessels.
“It’s just about working hard, because obviously there are two jobs to focus on. On the weekend I’m playing prop and hopefully it goes well.
“Playing with and scrummaging against players like Du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch at training and the other front rowers is a fantastic experience, and what makes this environment so special is that everyone wants one another to do well.”
The 23-year-old Wessels described his selection as a “dream come true”, and says the fact that he will be making his debut in front of the friends and family in Bloemfontein makes it even more special.
“I’ve aspired to be a Springbok since I was a young boy, so this is a massive opportunity and a dream come true,” the Bulls man said.
“It’s special to make one’s Springbok debut no matter where you play, but it doesn’t get any better than being able to do so in Bloemfontein in front of my family. When I was growing up, we were all glued to the television when the Boks played, and the team has always inspired me.”
Wessels matriculated at Grey College, the same school as Andre-Hugo Venter, who is set to make his Bok debut off the bench on Saturday. Making his Test bow with his long-time friend and fellow front-row powerhouse is a special prospect for the young front-row forward.
“We started playing together 10 years ago at school level,” he said. “We played in the U13 and U18 Craven Weeks, as well as the U16 Grant Khomo Week before moving on the Junior Springboks, so it will also be memorable to make our debuts together.”
IOL Sport
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