South Africa’s relentless pursuit of front-row dominance has a new blueprint, and its name is Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Following a gruelling stretch of Test matches where Springbok hooker depth was pushed to its limits, head coach Rassie Erasmus has laid out a clear, long-term vision for the 23-year-old Vodacom Bulls forward. While Wessels has spent the early stages of his international career operating as a destructive loosehead prop, Erasmus has confirmed that the young powerhouse is transitioning to prioritise the No. 2 jersey.
Transitioning between front-row positions at the international level is notoriously difficult. The last South African to successfully master the dual role of prop and hooker was World Cup-winning captain John Smit. Recognising the immense technical burden, Erasmus is refusing to rush Wessels into the deep end, choosing instead to focus his positional trajectory.
“Jan-Hendrik is going to develop into a reserve hooker,” Erasmus stated definitively. “Jan-Hendrik will probably focus more at hooker.”
The Bok management is utilising the squad's immense depth at loosehead prop to allow Wessels the freedom to lock down his core hooker responsibilities. Erasmus explained the tactical luxury that allows for this transition.
Erasmus explained that because of the depth at loosehead, mentioning players like Ox Nché, Boan Venter, Gerhard Steenekamp, and others, they have the flexibility to allow Wessels to focus on playing hooker.
This strategic move is not new, with Erasmus noting that Wessels’ unique athletic profile has been tracked for nearly a decade. “We earmarked Jan-Hendrik Wessels from our Elite Player Development (EPD) system from under-15 level, when he was playing prop then,” Erasmus explained, highlighting the long-term plan to leverage his versatility across hooker and prop positions.
While veterans currently handle high-pressure matches, Wessels remains a vital long-term project. His current ability to cover both loosehead prop and hooker provides tactical flexibility for "Bomb Squad" configurations. Ultimately, the goal is for Wessels to solidify his place as a specialised, dominant No. 2 for the future, building on the Springboks' strong hooker legacy.