Former Springbok captain Corné Krige says Cameron Hanekom’s versatility and all-round skill set make him an invaluable member of any loose trio.
Hanekom has emerged as a serious contender to claim a place in South Africa’s vaunted back row, receiving plaudits for his work rate and versatility in making game-changing contributions in both attack and defence, most notably complementing strong ball-carrying with the grit and guile of a specialist fetcher, writes DEVIN HERMANUS in SA Rugby magazine.
At just 22, the Bulls loose forward has already made his mark on the international stage, earning his first Test cap off the bench against Wales in Cardiff last November. It’s a rise that has been as meteoric as it has been methodical, drawing comparisons to some of Springbok rugby’s greatest names while carving out his own unique identity in the sport.
His journey to the green and gold jersey was never guaranteed. There were raised eyebrows when Bulls director of rugby Jake White selected the then 20-year-old Hanekom in his starting lineup on debut in the United Rugby Championship last season. After all, the Pretoria-based outfit boasted a formidable loose-forward contingent including Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden, Mpilo Gumede and Nizaam Carr.
But White, with his keen eye for talent, saw something special in the former Paarl Boys’ High star. At 1.93m and 110kg, Hanekom possessed the physical attributes that have become synonymous with Springbok back-row behemoths. More importantly, he carried himself with a maturity beyond his years, displaying a firm grip on reality and forthright approach that set him apart from his peers.
“With Cameron Hanekom, you could immediately see that he’s got the temperament,’ says former Springbok captain Corné Krige, himself no stranger to the brutal battle for possession at the breakdown. “He didn’t get too excited [on his Bok debut].
“He’s got that big-match temperament where he can do the right things, at the right time and under enormous pressure. I thought his debut was amazing. It wasn’t flashy, but it ticked all the boxes that’s for sure.”
This assessment carries particular weight coming from Krige, the inspirational leader nicknamed ‘Captain Courageous’ for his ability to play through pain, famous for his crunching tackles and never-say-die attitude. During his tenure with the Boks, Stormers and Western Province, Krige was often seen bloody, bruised and bandaged, yet relentlessly contesting the breakdown – a quality he recognises in Hanekom.
“What’s unique about Cameron is that some really good No 8s are either really good ball-carriers or they are mostly out wide, and their defence isn’t great. Or they are really good defenders but they’re not great ball-carriers,” Krige explains. “Cameron ticks all the boxes.
“He’s a phenomenal ball-carrier, he’s very quick off the mark, he’s difficult to tackle, and on top of that, he can jackal for the ball. He goes for the ball and for a tall guy, he’s very effective on the ground stealing balls.’
This ability to contest for possession has become increasingly crucial in the modern game, as Krige points out: “In today’s rugby, teams can’t just continuously defend, because players will take the ball through 25 phases and score.
“You have to have people disrupting and jackalling on the ground, making sure that there’s a break in play, or steal or turnover the ball, or get a penalty. That’s what makes him a standout player for me, that he can do all those things phenomenally well.”
White has been equally impressed with Hanekom’s dedication and versatility.
“He’s got an incredible work ethic; he’s always putting in extras on his days off, swimming or stretching,” the former Springbok boss told News24. “His greatest attribute is that he can play six, seven and eight, with incredible pace and explosiveness. The point of difference he has – other than his speed and feel – is that he can also be a lineout option.”
This versatility hasn’t gone unnoticed by Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus, who sees Hanekom as a crucial piece in his planning for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“Duane Vermeulen ran over people; Cameron can side-step, he can hand off tacklers, and sometimes run over them,’ Erasmus said after handing Hanekom his Bok debut in 2024, following a late call-up as an injury replacement on the world champions’ end-of-year tour. ‘I don’t think we can put him in a box and say he is exclusively a No 7 or a 6. I think he can also be a very good eighthman.”
The comparisons to the legendary Vermeulen are apt, according to Krige: “The comparisons between him and Duane are he’s a good defender, he’s an abrasive player who can carry the ball very well, and he can jackal, he can go for the ball.
“I promise you, those are three great characteristics for a No 8, because often it’s the openside flanker in South Africa who can go for the ball on the ground. So, in that sense, Cameron is in a league of his own. That’s what I think distinguishes him from the others right now.”
Hanekom’s impact was perhaps most evident in the 2023-24 URC semi-final against Leinster at Loftus Versfeld, where he earned Man of the Match honours with a performance that showcased his complete skill set. He dominated the stats sheet, leading in tackles (18), clean breaks (three), metres gained (81) and turnovers (two).
|It’s a skill that you either have in you or not, to go for the ball and be prepared to take serious punishment,’ Krige observes about Hanekom’s breakdown work. ‘Because once you go for the ball you’re an open target as you’ve got your head down at the ruck while you’re going for the ball. There are a lot of people who are not prepared to do that, and he’s one of them who is.”
As Erasmus prepares the Boks to continue their pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup triumph, Hanekom’s emergence couldn’t be better timed. With veterans Deon Fourie (38), Kwagga Smith (31) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (32) potentially being phased out over the next three years, the young Bull represents the future of Springbok loose-forward play.
Yet Krige emphasises the importance of managing this transition carefully: “I’ve always said that before Rassie arrived, we discarded older players too quickly. Because when you bring in a young player, if he doesn’t learn from the guy who is very experienced and is playing with him in a team, he’s learning from the opposition teaching him a lesson, and that’s what losses are.
“You rather have them learn from the older, wiser guys within the team and let them keep winning, because it’s a lot more positive learning than negative learning, which is what Rassie is doing really well.”
The recent shift of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi to No 8 for the Sharks could also prove crucial in Erasmus’ future planning as well as present fresh opportunities for Hanekom with the national team.
“Hanekom is a tall, strong guy who can jump in the lineout and he isn’t stocky so you can pick him up. He’s a lineout option, he’s a jackal option, and he can carry the ball strongly. So he can play six, seven and eight, which is really good to have as a back-
up in any team,’ says Krige.
“I mean, he’s such a special talent, and he reminds me a bit of Bobby Skinstad in terms of his skill set. He’s one of those guys who if you bring him off the bench, you’re bringing something very different to what Siya or Jasper Wiese will bring to the party.
“With Rassie being set on bringing on reserves who make a massive difference, I think Cameron can play that role,’ he adds. ‘If you want to bash people up in the beginning of a match and be very physical, Jasper Wiese is your man. But when it comes to the skill of handling the ball and being in the right place at the right time, jackalling for the ball … if you bring Cameron on, he can bring a totally different dimension to the game.”
Despite his rapid rise, there’s still room for growth in Hanekom’s game.
“I think he’s a good defender, and I haven’t seen him miss tackles, but I think he can be more abrasive in his defence,” Krige says. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s a weak point, I just think it’s one of the things where he can be slightly more aggressive.
“When you run into Jasper Wiese, you’ll know all about it. So, maybe that’s one area that Cameron can improve on. At this stage, there’s not much criticism, that’s for sure.”
A serious knee injury to 13-Test Louw, and the possibility of two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Du Toit featuring more regularly in the second row, may open the door for Hanekom to challenge the likes of Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruan Venter and Evan Roos for a spot at blindside flank or at the back of the scrum in the Boks’ mid-year Tests against Italy and Georgia.
The future looks bright for Hanekom, with Krige confident in his trajectory: “Bar injury, I think he’s just going to get better because his rise in the ranks has been phenomenal. If you see how quickly he’s already improved, I’m really excited about having him play more and more games for the Springboks to get that experience.”
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Hanekom’s unique value is in his ability to strike on both sides of the ball – whether it’s securing crucial turnovers at the breakdown, carrying powerfully in the tight and wide channels, or providing an extra target in the lineout, his multifaceted gameplay makes him an invaluable weapon for the world champions.
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
