Springboks embrace youth and experience as Hendrikse brothers prepare for Welsh challenge in final Test

Cameron Hanekom of South Africa during the South Africa men's national rugby team training session at The Lensbury on November 13, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images)

By Craig Ray

19 Nov 2024

Coach Rassie Erasmus has made seven personnel changes to the team that beat England last week.

Brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse have been selected as halfbacks to start against Wales in the Springboks’ final Test of a seminal 2024 season.

The brothers have only had a few minutes together at the professional level with the Sharks, but both have been preparing for this clash for two weeks.

Coach Rassie Erasmus had largely decided on the squad to meet Wales earlier in the tour, so the pair have been going through their paces on the training pitch.

Scrumhalf Jaden is a World Cup winner and Bok regular, while flyhalf Jordan made his only Test appearance against Wales at Twickenham earlier in the year.

They will become the 36th set of brothers to represent the Boks in a Test and the first since Robert and Dan du Plessis, also against Wales, in Washington in 2018.

In all, there are seven changes to the team that beat England as Erasmus maintained his rotation policy in an effort to build depth with an eye on Rugby World Cup 2027.

Make it a dozen

Looseforward Cameron Hanekom is selected on the bench and is set to become the 12th player to make his Test debut this season. Remarkably, he will be the 52nd player Erasmus has used in 13 Tests this year, underlining the heavy rotation the Boks have been through. Starting lock Jean Kleyn is the 51st.

Despite the ongoing chopping and changing, the Boks have won 10 of 12 Tests in 2024, for an 83% winning ratio. They also won the Rugby Championship and the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009, after back-to-back wins against the All Blacks, to add to the bulging trophy cabinet.

While Bok performances have not always been consistent due to the rotation policy, the results have been exceptional, as they continue to find ways to win despite the constant tinkering by Erasmus.

Aside from the halfbacks, it’s the same backline that started in the 29-20 win over England at Twickenham last week, with wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse set to be unleashed again.

Aphelele Fassi has nailed down the fullback berth after a sensational season, meaning ageing warrior Willie le Roux remains stranded on 98 Test caps. His century will have to wait until 2025, if it comes at all.

Up front the Boks have made an enforced change in the back row with the colossal Pieter-Steph du Toit ruled out with a “shoulder niggle”. That allows Elrigh Louw to start and opens the door for Hanekom to come into the selection frame.

Jaden Hendrikse of South Africa delivers the ball to the backs during their Autumn Nations Series 2024 match against Scotland at Murrayfield on November 10, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo: David Rogers / Getty Images)

Loosehead prop Ox Nché, who limped off against England with a badly gashed knee, has been stitched up and will start against Wales, alongside Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar.

Thomas du Toit returns to tighthead after missing the England clash, and Kleyn makes his first Bok appearance since the final of RWC 2023, after an injury-plagued year.

Franco Mostert starts in the second row alongside Kleyn, with Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman on the bench. There is no room for Kwagga Smith this week.

Completing the set

Erasmus has gone with a 6/2 split between forwards and backs this week, completing the full set of replacement options, having astounded with a 7/1 against Scotland (the Boks won 32-15) and then a conventional 5/3 against England.

“This is our last match of the season, and we are determined to finish the year on a positive note,” said Erasmus. “We selected a squad that shows a good mix of experience and youth, which is crucial as we look to maintain some consistency in selection, while at the same time giving guys like Jordan and Cameron, who have been exceptional at training on tour, a chance to show us what they can do.

“Jordan played against Wales in June, and we are very excited to see how he dictates play with Jaden alongside him, and we are also delighted that Cameron is getting a chance to play after showing his class at training throughout the tour and for the Vodacom Bulls in the United Rugby Championship.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus at Allianz Stadium on 16 November 2024 in London, England. (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini / Gallo Images)

“Cameron also offers us a few options at loose forward as he can play No 6, No 7 and No 8, and that will be valuable with two locks on the bench.”

Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flyhalf Handré Pollard are the only backline cover, with Lukhanyo Am sacrificed in the 6/2 reshuffle.

Reinach can play wing if needed, Pollard is able to operate at inside centre while Jordan Hendrikse has played a lot of rugby at fullback this season. Kolbe can also play at flyhalf and scrumhalf if needed while centre Jesse Kriel is adept at wing. The Boks can rejig their backline in multiple ways.

Challenging clash

The Boks might have scored 93 points and 11 tries in their last two outings against Wales — both played in London — but Erasmus is taking nothing for granted.

Erasmus expected a challenging clash against Wales despite the hosts going into the match on a disappointing, record run of 11 consecutive defeats.

“Wales are a proud nation with a world-renowned coach in Warren Gatland, and they’ll do everything to finish their campaign on a high note,” said Erasmus.

“We’ve experienced first hand how a run of defeats can galvanise a team, and the fact that they’ll be playing at home with a passionate crowd behind them will inspire them even more — just as our supporters inspire us when we play at home.

“Obviously we’d love to finish the tour unbeaten, but we are well aware of the fact that we’ve had a few close results against them over the years at the Principality Stadium.”

Cameron Hanekom will become the twelfth player to make his debut for the Boks this season. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)

Erasmus said there were plenty of examples of teams reversing their fortunes from the status of underdogs.

“A lot can change in rugby with a change in confidence and mindset, and Australia are a perfect example (the Wallabies have beaten England and Wales in November after finishing last in the Rugby Championship) of how things can change in the sport if one considers how well they are playing now compared to last year,” said Erasmus.

“So, we’ll show Wales the same respect we showed England and Scotland, and we know we know we have to be at our best to come out with the result we want.

“They are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favour.

“In fact, a little over a year ago they played in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which is a testament to the force they can be.” DM

Team:

Springboks

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Ox Nché.

Reserves: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach 23 Handré Pollard.

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South Africa

Make it a dozen

Completing the set