While Wiese, a stalwart from the 2023 World Cup victory, did not journey with the team to Buenos Aires, he started in three of South Africa’s first four games this year. In the wake of the match, Erasmus did not shy away from acknowledging Hanekom’s ascending prowess within the squad.
"Jasper Wiese is clearly our No 1 at 8," the Bok boss said. "Cameron played well against an Argentinian team that knocked us over a few times, so it’s lucky to have another option there."
Erasmus also highlighted the depth of talent available in the position. Players like Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, and an injured Siya Kolisi, who is expected to return soon, were mentioned alongside André Esterhuizen and Marco van Staden as viable backups.
"We’ll try and pick the 23 that we think can beat New Zealand. But definitely, Cameron has started to settle nicely in the team. He’s starting to be calm, understanding what we’re trying to do, and he’s getting better every game," Erasmus remarked, showing confidence in Hanekom's integration into the team’s dynamics.
Looking ahead, the Springboks are gearing up for a thrilling encounter against their arch-rivals, the All Blacks, as part of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. Hanekom’s performance and growing assurance in the number eight role adds an exciting dimension to the team’s strategy and selection possibilities.
The Boks will continue their preparation for the highly anticipated match, with team health updates and final roster decisions soon to be announced. The integration of returning players like Kolisi will provide additional layers of strategy as the team aims to solidify their lineup.
This ongoing development within the team places South Africa in a robust position to challenge their fiercest competitors on the rugby field, making for some spellbinding upcoming matches in international rugby.
