How Springbok Wessels adapts to dual role
REACTION: The dual role is nothing new in the Springbok set-up, with world-class players often juggling different positions, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels is embracing the challenge with open arms.
The 25-year-old Wessels came off the bench and showed his incredible value during the Springboks’ 43-0 win over Wales in their Rugby Championship Round Three clash.
The forward, who has scored two Test tries since debuting against Portugal in 2024, earned his 12th cap in the showdown at Kings Park Stadium.
South Africa is not short of incredibly talented players, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels is a player who adds immense depth to the squad with his ability to cover loosehead prop and hooker.
While he admits the dual role is demanding, Wessels credits the Springboks’ coaching staff for ensuring he is fully prepared, regardless of where he is needed.
“I think training-wise they prepare me really well,” Wessels said after the match in Durban.
“Scrum-wise and with the line-outs, technical analyst Joe Lewis helps me, defence coach Jerry Flannery helps me, scrum coach Daan Human and forwards coach Deon Davids. They don’t throw me into the deep end.
“This week playing loosehead, I trained the whole week at loosehead. I think most of my games at the Bulls were at loosehead.”
Over the last three weeks alone, Wessels has been required to fill multiple roles. Against England he covered only loosehead prop, while against Scotland he switched between loosehead and hooker.
Despite the constant positional changes, he says there is always a clear plan.
“In the England game I didn’t play hooker, so I went on at loosehead. In the Scotland game I went on at prop first, maybe just to calm the nerves a bit and get comfortable with the tempo of the game before moving to hooker later,” he said.
“I actually enjoy it. The whole management and coaching staff make it comfortable during the week so that I’m prepared on Saturday.”
His versatility also provides the Springboks with valuable insurance during matches.
“I always tease the loose forwards that if they get slow, they’ll have to move to hooker.
“But being versatile always helps.
“If something happens at hooker, you’ve got a guy who can throw in at the line-outs.”
The Springboks laid the perfect platform in the 43-0 victory over Wales through another dominant scrum performance. According to RugbyPass statistics, South Africa finished the match with a 100% scrum success rate.
For Wessels, maintaining those standards is a matter of pride.
“We always pride ourselves on our scrums,” said Wessels, who replaced Gerhard Steenekamp.
“The biggest part of our game is putting pressure on the opposition and giving our backs good ball.
“The front row that starts sets a great standard for us coming off the bench. It motivates us because we don’t want to let the team down after seeing what they have done before us.
“It makes us even more excited when we get the opportunity to go on.”
