Wessels could step in as backup hooker for Boks
There was no clear answer from the Springbok camp yesterday about the injuries to hooker Bongi Mbonambi and No 5 locks RG Snyman and Ruan Nortjé, and if they trained with the side in preparation for the second Test against the Wallabies on Saturday in Perth.
But an indication that Mbonambi may not be available because of back spasms that forced him to leave the field after barely 30 minutes of play during the 33-7 win in Brisbane, was the presence of rookie front-ranker Jan-Hendrik Wessels yesterday during the first media conference of the week.
“We will give it our best to try and emulate what the Springbok group did this past weekend. You always go into a game trying to win, but you don’t look too much into getting five points. You want to win first.” – Rassie Erasmus
The Springboks and Aussies clash in the second Rugby Championship match at the Optus Stadium (kick-off 11.55am, SA time) on Saturday and Wessels could come in as the backup hooker should Mbonambi not be available. Malcolm Marx would then take over the No 2 starting jersey after playing off the bench this past weekend.
Wessels was coy when asked which position he prefers after making his Bok debut at loosehead prop in the win over Portugal in Bloemfontein last month. For now, he says, there’s no preferential place.
“I just enjoy playing,” Wessels said yesterday.
“I am working hard on my line-out throw-ins and my scrums daily. Coach Daan (Human, scrum coach), and coach Deon (Davids, forwards coach) help me. Malcolm (Marx), Bongi (Mbonambi) and Duane (Vermeulen, assistant coach), help me.
“I think to keep both (positions) sharp is what I am focusing on at the moment. I don’t think I am at a place where I can choose one over the other and say I want to play in that one. So, I will work on both equally and won’t shut one down.”
Should the 23-year-old front-rower get the nod today from head coach Rassie Erasmus, he looks forward to playing and it doesn’t matter where he will be running out.
Erasmus made it clear in recent weeks that they will continue to blend youngsters with experienced players while their goal is to claim a first Rugby Championship title since 2019. After Saturday’s bonus-point win, they are well on their way to back-to-back victories over Australia for the first time in years.
“We will give it our best to try and emulate what the Springbok group did this past weekend. You always go into a game trying to win, but you don’t look too much into getting five points. You want to win first.
“Should the game play out that way, then you will look to get those five points. If I get the opportunity, we will do our best to win. We had a good win this past weekend and spoke about it.
“But we want to maintain the same standards. So we have been preparing like last week and I don’t think there is any complacency in the team. We know what the plan and goal is.”
According to Wessels, they feel they have a few things to fix ahead of Saturday’s duel, although they had a great performance.
When Mbonambi left the field, they missed a few line-outs, while their discipline also came under the magnifying glass with penalties at the breakdown and three yellow cards at the death.
But despite all of those, conceding only seven points will be a feather in the cap of any side.
“We nailed down the detail, despite some things that didn’t go our way. We worked hard last week and the week before and can be proud of that performance.”