Opportunity knocks for Wessels, Norton on northern tour

OPINION:  Malcolm Marx’s workload and a slew of second-row injuries may force Rassie Erasmus to develop his less experienced tight-five options in the next phase of the Nations Championship.

There’s been a lot of chat about the exciting young backs on display in the United Rugby Championship over the past few weeks.

Junior Bok graduates Yaqeen Ahmed and Markus Muller have made the most of their opportunities with the Stormers and have earned a place in the 37-man Springbok squad ahead of the Tests against Italy, France and Ireland.

Bulls winger Sebastian de Klerk has looked sharp after returning from injury, while utility back Luan Giliomee continues to show that he belongs at this level.

Sharks powerhouse Ethan Hooker has made a successful shift to centre, and may well be used at No.12 by the Boks at some stage of the four-match tour to Europe.

Like Giliomee, Sharks fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya has proved that he is ready to take the next step, after dazzling on the recent three-match tour to Europe.

But the Boks are spoiled for choice at No.15 at present, and Erasmus clearly wants to see what second-choice Aphelele Fassi can offer over the next few weeks.

Siyaya has already represented South Africa A, and will receive Test opportunities down the line.

Indeed, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the youngster was called up to the squad this month in the event of an injury.

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While South African rugby boasts an embarrassment of riches in the back division – with a view to the 2027 World Cup as well as the 2031 tournament that follows – Erasmus faces a more pressing issue in the forwards.

Erasmus and his coaches have spoken about their quest to develop younger lock options in this World Cup cycle, and on the coming tour, they may have another chance.

The Bok coach experimented with Cobus Wiese and Ruben van Heerden in the second-row positions earlier this season.

It was hoped that Ruan Venter might get an extended run with the national side – as a lock and flank option in the mould of Pieter-Steph du Toit – before the Lions player broke down with a serious injury.

Another versatile back-five forward in Ben-Jason Dixon, is unavailable at present.

RG Snyman is out with a long-term knee injury, while Eben Etzebeth will miss the tour to Europe this November due to a “lower-limb” ailment.

Another World Cup-winner in Jean Kleyn has been in fine form for a resurgent Gloucester this season, but Erasmus has opted to include a few less experienced locks in the group to face Italy, France and Ireland.

Ruan Nortje should continue as the Boks’ premier No.5, while Lood de Jager will cover both positions. Forwards coach Deon Davids mentioned earlier this year that De Jager may be a long-term solution at No.4.

Pieter-Steph du Toit is the Boks’ best blindside flank, but has played for South Africa in both second-row positions and has been listed as a utility forward for this tour.

Again, while it’s good to see Erasmus reward South Africa’s young backs with a call-up for the coming matches, more should be read into some of the selections up front.

Salmaan Moerat has struggled with injuries over the last two seasons, but has made a successful return to play with La Rochelle in physically demanding tournaments such as the Top 14 and Champions Cup.

It will be interesting to see if Moerat slots back into the match 23 for the big matches this November, or if former Junior Bok skipper Riley Norton cracks the nod.

Norton was earmarked for a Test debut this past July, with Erasmus confirming that the 20-year-old would have started against England at Ellis Park if not for an untimely hamstring injury.

The multi-talented utility forward certainly impressed for the Boks in the preceding game against the Barbarians, and since returning from injury, Norton has added value to the Stormers in his role from the bench.

That said, Erasmus could back Norton in a starting role at some stage this November, and perhaps save a more experienced forward combination – including De Jager – for the bench.

The coming game against Italy presents the ideal opportunity, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Norton features against France or Ireland.

With respect to the Azzurri, those matches will demand far more of the Bok forwards and show whether some of the fringe players are ready for more responsibility ahead of a World Cup year.

Malcolm Marx is in the form of his life, which is quite a statement, given that he won the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2025.

The hooker was at his very best in the recent Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, and should be a force in the big Tests this November.

The management of one of South Africa’s prize assets has been a talking point for some time, though.

Marx has racked up more than 400 minutes for the Boks in 2026 – and of the forwards, only Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Nortje and Etzebeth have played more.

Erasmus can’t afford to flog Marx in four consecutive Tests this November. At the very least, he should manage the big man’s minutes and ensure that others share the load.

More specifically, Jan-Hendrik Wessels should be given more responsibility as a specialist hooker.

Marco van Staden looks set to play a utility role, and one can see what Erasmus is trying to achieve with a view to the World Cup.

With Van Staden in tow, the Boks can afford to travel to the 2027 tournament with just two specialist hookers and one other covering the position. Deon Fourie and Van Staden himself occupied these utility roles at the previous tournament in France.

Back in 2023, however, the Boks had two outstanding hooker options, and were prepared for the worst-case scenario of Marx breaking down with a serious injury. When that nightmare came to pass, Bongi Mbonambi was ready to step into the breach.

Fast forward to the present. Mbonambi has battled for game time at the Sharks and Boks in recent seasons, and is now hoping to revive his career with a move to the Stormers.

The timing of the move appears significant – and was confirmed only hours before the Bok squad announcement last week.

While the 35-year-old picked up a hamstring niggle ahead of the recent clash against Ulster, it will be interesting to see whether he is considered by Erasmus in the event of a front-row injury this November.

For now, Wessels must use this opportunity to strengthen his bid to serve as Marx’s understudy in the short and long term.

The 25-year-old has been in good form for the Bulls, but has only featured in six games for the Boks this season, as others like Fourie, Johan Grobbelaar and Andre-Hugo Venter have shared the load as the team’s second hooker.

While Erasmus does appear to have several hookers at his disposal, the situation is not quite the same as it was in 2023, when Marx and Mbonambi served as the frontline options and other utility players providing support.

If Mbonambi himself doesn’t make his way back to form and reclaim his place alongside Marx, then another player like Wessels will need to step up.

The coming games should provide the youngster with the chance to prove he is ready for the responsibility.

At the very least, the further development of Wessels could ease the load on Marx, ahead of the clashes in Paris, Dublin and possibly a Nations Championship final in London.