Rassie Erasmus praises Junior Springboks after impressive training camp

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus was impressed by the enthusiasm and willingness of the three Junior Springboks who trained with the national team for the past two weeks in Johannesburg.

The world champions wrapped up their conditioning camp on Thursday as they continue to lay the foundation for the Rugby Championship starting next weekend against Australia at Ellis Park.

Loose forward Bathobele Hlekani, winger Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead experienced a Bok setup for the first time after being invited by Erasmus to train with the Boks after their exploits at the World Rugby U20 Championship, where they won the title for the first time in 13 years.

“We were very pleased with the way they slotted into the training sessions and used the time to interact with the Springbok players and learn from them, even though we made it clear that there was no pressure on them to grasp all our structures and systems,” Erasmus said after the camp.

“It was rather an opportunity for them to experience how we operate in the team and to expose them to what is required to perform at this level, and they certainly embraced the opportunity. It was good to see how they took the time to understand our structures and how they used this chance to engage with the players on a one-on-one basis.

“They all have bright futures, and we hope the experience they gained and the lessons learned will set them in good standing, as they look to further develop their careers and strive to reach this level in the coming years.”

Pead grabbed the eye at the U20 with his explosive performances behind the pack. Jooste impressed with his silky side-stepping and the pace with which he beat multiple defenders. Hlekani’s physical presence gave the Baby Boks impetus on the defence and when the forwards carried the ball up into contact.

In a clip from the recent Bok camp training, he showed his power by fighting off multiple World Cup winners and his junior colleagues when they tried to take the ball from him in a simulated contact session.

Jooste, who played SA U18 last year, described it as an incredible experience.

“It was particularly memorable for me to be inspired and motivated by the players I look up to and who are already where I’d like to be. They didn’t only share their knowledge, but also their energy and spirit of unity.”

Hlekani said he learned a lot from the Bok forwards, and he improved the techniques of his game that he was lacking. He is hopeful they will receive another opportunity like this in the future.

I’ll definitely take what I have learnt and use it to improve my game. I’m going to keep pushing, stay hungry, and hopefully one day I’ll be part of this squad.”

Pead echoed the sentiment of his teammates and believes the experience will only enhance his skills going forward. He was the second-highest try scorer at the U20 Championship and will be available for the Lions in the Currie Cup.

“I’ve learnt valuable lessons, and the experience I gained will truly go a long way.  I believe I have grown in the last two weeks, and with these high standards, it definitely motivated me to give my absolute best so that I can reach the level they are at.”