Cameron Hanekom: 'My place is not secure at all'
INTERVIEW: Cameron Hanekom has used every possible minute in the Springbok jersey he has had to show the Bok coaches what he brings to the table.
After a performance against Argentina, which has been hailed as his coming-of-age moment at Test level, the rugby world is sitting up and taking notice.
After that game, the 24-year-old was hailed far and wide as the best Bok on the field with a display suggesting he is ready to become a major figure for Rassie Erasmus’ side.
Hanekom carried 13 times for 82 metres and scored South Africa’s decisive try, while his work at the breakdown and relentless defensive effort repeatedly stood out in a bruising encounter.
In the third Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium, he made an immediate impact when he took the field with a strong carry and got stuck in defensively.
With performances like the ones he has been coming up with week after week, he is showing Erasmus that he is knocking on the No.8 door in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
Speaking to reporters post-match, the relief and pride for the win were evident.
“It was an intense game. I mean, the atmosphere was crazy. Just looking up in the crowd when we were singing the anthem, seeing all the South African supporters here. Yeah, it was surreal.
“And it was a proper battle out there.”
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Reflecting on his performance, he added, “Looking back at the last game, I made two silly errors. I knew that if I come onto the field [today], I can’t afford that again, especially in the crunch time in the last 20.
“So yeah, I was just trying to balance out not being too overeager to make a hit or so.
The Springbok No.8 is not resting on his laurels from past highlights and says the competition among the loosies is fierce.
“It’s always going to be a challenge.
“I mean, we’ve got a lot of proper players coming through the ranks, and we’ve got a good, healthy competition at the moment.
“I must say, I don’t think my place is secured at all. It’s always going to be a hard battle, day in and day out. If you’re picked, if you’re not picked, you stand up, and you do it for the team.”
Talking about the atmosphere in Soweto and how much it meant to the team to play in front of more than 85 000 spectators, Hanekom said it was very special, as it was the team’s last outing on home soil.
“It was very special, I must say, especially as this is our last game for the year in South Africa.
“So we knew we had to make a statement. We knew it was never going to be easy. I’m glad that we could get the win. That we could make the South Africans proud and give them one last win before we go overseas. It was special.”
Looking ahead to his first trip to the United States for the fourth and final Test, Hanekom knows what it will take to get over the line.
“It’s going to need a collective effort. From everybody that’s travelling. It’s part of the management, is part of the coaches, is part of the players.
“We all have to buy in to get together, and that’s what we’ve been doing, and it’s been working for us. So I mean, if we get the collective buy-in, the hard work will pay off at the end of the day.”
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