The Springboks have to answer their hooker question in the coming season but the URC will be crucial in sizing up who should get the call.
Due to the injury of Springboks star Bongi Mbonambi early in the tournament, Deon Fourie justifiably received high credit for playing 75 minutes at hooker. However, that situation only occurred because of a developing positional issue in South African rugby.
The position of hooker is obviously problematic throughout the nation, as none of the available backups can match the injury-prone Malcolm Marx and Mbonambi of the Springboks.
URC NOT GOING GREAT FOR SA HOOKERS
A few rounds of URC rugby have exposed that lack of depth and the inconsistency of form of the players who
may be called upon to take over in 2024.
Johan Grobbelaar of the Bulls, who was first capped by the Springboks in 2023, seems to be the strongest contender. When it comes to carrying and even finishing, Grobbelaar is almost on par with someone like Marx. The Bulls No. 2 undoubtedly has an eye for the tryline, but the Springboks already need to improve their precision at this setpiece because his lineout throws this season have been far from flawless.
In an effort to support the Bulls, Akker van der Merwe has also returned to South Africa; but, at 32, it is doubtful that he would be included in a Springboks team that is rebuilding.
THE SHARKS GLUT OF HOOKERSThe Sharks inability to settle on who should be their hooker hasn’t aided the national cause especially given that one of their options is Scotland international Dylan Richardson. Dan Jooste and Kerron van Vuuren have been questioned because of their height, but both have had great moments for the Sharks without ever establishing themselves. Fez Mbatha is closer to the Springbok mould of hooker, but he currently struggles to get any game time at all in Durban.
THE STORMERS HAVE AGING OPTIONS
Down in Cape Town, there is a similar glut of hookers fighting for game time, including promising youngsters Andre-Hugo Venter and JJ Kotze. Joseph Dweba joined the Stormers hoping to make a Springboks push, but he has been instructed to work on his lineout feed. Scarra Ntubeni is their most reliable hand, but as far as national duty goes, he is probably in the same boat as the Bulls’ van der Merwe.
LIONS BEING OVERLOOKED
The Lions PJ Botha is probably a player who deserves to be talked about more when it comes to higher honours. With the 25-year-old tied to the Lions until at least 2025, they have been out to give him the game time his skillset warrants. Botha is being well-mentored by veteran Lions hooker Jaco Visagie with whom he alternates in the No 2 jersey. We haven’t seen enough of 22-year-old prospect Morne Brandon to give him a fair evaluation.
THE URC KEY TO ANSWERING HOOKER QUESTION
One of the fundamentals of the No. 2 job is still locating your jumpers in the lineout, despite the fact that the hooker position has changed throughout time, with many now functioning as extra loose forwards at the breakdown as well as fierce and aggressive ball carriers.
From a Springbok perspective, the 2023–2024 URC season will be crucial because Rassie Erasmus will be looking to find players who can provide elite options at hooker.
