The rise of Damian Willemse and Jaden Hendrikse was the high of a rollercoaster series victory against Wales, and these two talents are primed to make the Springboks untouchable at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, writes ZELIM NEL.
The world champions beat Wales 30-14 in Cape Town to cap a 2-1 series win during which Willemse proved his flyhalf qualities are fully compatible with Test rugby, while Hendrikse showcased a skill-set and temperament that make him a perfect fit for the Bok No 9 jersey.
In both of his first two Bok starts on home soil, Willemse began at fullback before circumstances conspired to ensure he finished at first receiver where he made key contributions across the flyhalf gamut.
A misfiring Elton Jantjies was yanked in the Pretoria opener and it was Willemse who plugged the hole at 10, where he led the team in carry metres, kicked two conversions and then coolly slotted the match-winning penalty. After a short cameo off the bench in a shambolic reverse in Bloemfontein, Willemse shifted from fullback when Cheslin Kolbe went off in the Cape Town decider, defending at 12 in a rejigged backline but popping up at first receiver on attack.
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At Loftus Versfeld, Willemse combined clutch goal-kicking with assertive defence and in Cape Town, despite playing with a heavily bandaged elbow and ankle, he took the ball to the line – using his feet to dictate terms in contact and his hands to float two offloads – made a try-saving tackle on Josh Adams and then high-pointed a cross-kick to the wing from Handre Pollard.
Like many of the overseas-based Boks, Pollard warmed up after an icy start to the international season.
In the decider, the veteran flyhalf powered across the line between two tight forwards to score a try, converted all six of his shots at goal and was vocal off the ball in keeping the team organised and composed. Leadership experience aside, Willemse matches Pollard’s strengths but offers much more athletically and in the soft skills where Pollard labours, as evidenced by two rushed grubber kicks that were blocked by Welsh defenders.
While Rassie Erasmus is a big believer in experience, Pollard was 25 when South Africa won the 2019 World Cup – Willemse will be 25 in May next year.
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At minimum, Willemse will create a competition battle at flyhalf that has been missing for years and which will challenge Pollard to be at his best. But if circumstances continue to give him opportunities to shine at 10, Willemse will unlock a Bok attack that relies almost exclusively on breaking down the front door with the maul.
That’s not to say there is anything wrong with the Bok plan. It is both masterful and effective, and in this regard Hendrikse has added real value to a scrumhalf room that has been a mixed bag since the last World Cup.
Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach have struggled with injury while indifferent form has plagued Herschel Jantjies.
De Klerk rose to fame for his high work rate and tenacity in contact, punching above his weight, while Reinach and Jantjies are two game-breakers – one with elite speed and the other with a keen eye for the gap.
All three have steadily improved in the tactical game but kicking is a skill that appears to come far more naturally to Hendrikse. On his starting debut, the 22-year-old was by my estimation the best Bok in Bloemfontein and he was again very good in Cape Town, launching consistently accurate box-kicks that perfectly complemented South Africa’s ascendancy in the carry and at the breakdown.
It was also noteworthy the way in which Jacques Nienaber utilised the tall halfback in defence. Where De Klerk has played a joker role, sweeping the line or swooping in to catch his opposite number with the ball, Hendrikse often took up position among the forwards in close defence, perhaps a ploy to maximise his prowess as a ball-hawk.
He is also no slouch on attack, linking up with Lukhanyo Am in Cape Town to break down the Wales defence for what looked like a try before it was called back for a forward pass.
When this aptitude for kicking and defence is matched with attacking guile and a mouth highly adept at engaging opponents in… let’s call it ‘foreign diplomacy’… Hendrikse presents himself as arguably South Africa’s most well-rounded scrumhalf option, and someone to give De Klerk a big push.
Willemse and Hendrikse ran with the opportunities they were given during the Wales series and the timing couldn’t be better for South Africa. The Boks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup and beat the 2021 British & Irish Lions on the back of raw power from an indomitable pack, magical touches from the midfielders and surgical finishing out wide, but with less conviction and consistency at 9, 10 and 15.
It’s difficult to shake the feeling that South Africa will need to be notably better than they were in Japan if they are to retain the Webb Ellis Cup in France next year, and that the class of 2023 would need to be favourites in a hypothetical clash against the class of 2019.
This next level is unlikely to come from a largely unchanged pack, midfield and wide corps, but the sharp ascent of Willemse and Hendrikse has presented the Boks with the perfect catalyst to evolve into double world champions.
