Vodacom Bulls star Cameron Hanekom is the obvious choice to pack down at the back of the scrum for the Springboks in their first Test of 2025, according to readers.
Bok thumper Jasper Wiese, who started six of his seven Tests last year in the No 8 jersey, is reportedly out for the season with a neck injury.
The world champions kick off their calendar year against the Barbarians on 28 June, before clashes with Italy (5 and 12 July) and Georgia (19 July).
In a SARugbymag.co.za poll after news broke of Wiese’s surgery, 53% of fans decided that Bok boss Rassie Erasmus must look no further than Hanekom as the back-row juggernaut’s replacement.
The 21-year-old powerhouse impressed in his debut against Wales last year, and was one of the Bulls’ standout performers during Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals defeat in Edinburgh.
He edged out Stormers bruiser Evan Roos (19%) and two-time World Cup-winning skipper Siya Kolisi (12%) in the poll.
Roos has rediscovered the form that earned him a Bok call-up in 2022 – the seven-cap forward made two Test appearances last year after missing out on World Cup selection – while Kolisi has adapted his game since shifting to eighthman for the Sharks.
Photo: Euan Cherry/Getty Images
