One of the grave dangers in rugby is to overhype young stars, and a great example is undoubtedly 2017 U20 Player of the Year Juarno Augustus, who did seem to battle with the weight of expectation placed on his shoulders after excelling for the Junior Springboks.
However, there is also no doubt that the Junior Springbok set up is a brilliant stepping stone to senior honours, and it certainly seems as if the current generation of U20 champions have unearthed some brilliant raw gems.
Just recently, Bathobele Hlekani, Cheswill Jooste and Haashim Pead all earned the opportunity to train with the Springbok group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg, clearly having already caught the eye of the national coaches.
Others such as supremely talented Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton and goal-kicking supremo Vusi Moyo could just have easily also been called up if there was space to do so.
However, when casting an eye to the 2027 World Cup, this is who we believe are on a trajectory to burst into the Springbok team for this title defence.
SA U20 stars on path to Springbok greatness
Bathobele Hlekani
When speaking to coaches who have worked with Hlekani, there is general consensus that the powerful forward is a generational talent.
Standing at 1.93 m tall (6ft 4in) and weighing in at around 115 kg, the Junior Springboks’ blindside flank sometimes appeared like a man amongst boys as he truly announced his arrival on the global stage during the recent U20 tournament.
Since then, clips have emerged of Hlekani impressing with his strength and power during the time recently spent with the Springboks, where he certainly didn’t look out of place.
The big man is now 20-years-old and is set to start a new chapter at the Lions, where he should receive regular game-time.
Despite his size, Hlekani also possesses plenty of pace, a strong step and good hands, and he undoubtedly has all the attributes to be the next big thing in South African rugby.
When considering his path into the Springbok set up, what also works in his favour is the fact that the Springboks do need to build some depth beyond Pieter-Steph du Toit, and there is every reason to believe Hlekani could make his Test debut before the end of the year – perhaps in the one-off fixture planned against Japan in early November.
Haashim Pead
The talented scrumhalf truly set the U20 Championship alight with a series of sensational performances and try-scoring heroics.
Boasting incredible pace, X factor and a strong kicking game, it was no surprise that Pead was one of the Junior Springboks recently called up to join the Springboks in training, and it’s believed that he also really impressed during this time.
The Springboks took four versatile scrumhalves to the last World Cup, but the fact of the matter is that 33-year-old Faf de Klerk and 35-year-old Cobus Reinach are unlikely to make it to the next global showpiece.
With Jaden Hendrikse having also begun to fall down the pecking order, the door truly is open for Pead to begin a rapid rise up the ranks.
Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg have impressed in recent times, but it would be no surprise at all to see 20-year-old Pead receive an opportunity this season, or next, to really stake a claim for a ticket to the 2027 World Cup.
Do you agree with these predictions?
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