Juarno ‘Trokkie’ Augustus has all the tools to drive Springboks at No 8

Ruck&Maul Column

Did you know that the last South African to be chosen as the world’s best Under-20 player was Juarno Augustus?

Yes, the same big No 8 that starred for the Northampton Saints in last weekend’s epic Champions Cup semi-final triumph over Leinster in Dublin.

The former Junior Springbok stalwart was the player of the tournament at the Under-20 Championship in 2017, which took place in Georgia.

So good was Augustus that he won his award despite the Junior Boks going down 24-22 to England in the semi-final.

They at least won the third-place playoff 37-15 against a French side including current Test stars such as hooker Peato Mauvaka, utility forward Alexandre Roumat, flyhalf Romain Ntamack and utility back Mathieu Jalibert.

South Africa were captained by Ernst van Rhyn, and several players went on to play Test rugby, including Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok, Salmaan Moerat, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Embrose Papier and Curwin Bosch.

One would’ve thought that Augustus would be a Springbok by now, having turned 27 last December – but it just hasn’t happened for the man who stands at 1.85m and 116kg, and is nicknamed ‘Trokkie’ (little truck).

Could 2025 be the year? Having not quite made the necessary impact at the Stormers and Western Province in his early senior years, Augustus went up north to join Northampton in 2021.

His stint in England will come to an end this season, as he has signed for Ulster in Belfast and will feature in the United Rugby Championship, where he will face the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions.

But considering the impact he’s made with the Saints, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus may be tempted to have a proper look at Augustus in the Incoming Tour window against the Barbarians, Italy and Georgia.

Jasper Wiese has been the first-choice Bok No 8 for a few years now, and the retirement of Duane Vermeulen following the 2023 World Cup triumph has left a hole at the back of the scrum.

Japan-based Wiese’s neck injury is reportedly not as serious as initially thought, and he could be ready to play in the early 2025 Tests.

But it’s not worth risking him ahead of the blockbuster Rugby Championship encounters against the Wallabies in South Africa in August, and then the two massive All Black Tests in New Zealand in September.

Evan Roos is arguably the next No 8 in line after Wiese, and has displayed some impressive form over the last few months for the Stormers.

Young upstart Cameron Hanekom has been outstanding for the Bulls over the last two seasons as well, and would deserve more caps after his debut against Wales last November.

But both those loose forwards are a bit lighter in weight and have a different player profile to Vermeulen, who was much more of a grinder and did the hard yards than roaming in the wider channels.

Augustus is probably closer in style to Vermeulen than Wiese, Roos and Hanekom, and I think it would be worth Erasmus’ while to explore what he could offer in the international arena.

The one criticism of him in the past was that he was just able to dish out a few big ball-carries, and had a supposed low work-rate in general play when he was at the Stormers, but he has become a well-rounded player at Northampton.

In the thrilling 37-34 win over Leinster, the man from Alexander Bay, near the coastal border with Namibia, Augustus recorded 13 tackles, seven carries and had three defenders beaten in a full 80-minute performance that placed him in the top-five Northampton players in those categories.

Those 13 tackles in particular is worthy of praise, as it was more than any Leinster player had managed.

Opposite No 8 Caelan Doris, flank Josh van der Flier and prop Andrew Porter all managed 10 – although it must be noted that Northampton made 171 tackles in total compared to just 98 by Leinster, who also dished out 161 carries to 101 by the Saints.

The energetic young English loose forward Henry Pollock made a superb 22 tackles, but wasn’t among the top-five Northampton ball-carriers.

So, the Tygerberg High School product Augustus has added the necessary extra bows to his game over the last few seasons.

He also won the Premiership in England last season and will now feature in the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux on May 24 in Cardiff.

Surely that must count for something in Erasmus’ book?