Neil de Kock: Jaden Hendrikse selection highlights form over reputation

After South Africa’s first ever defeat to Wales on home soil, Jaden Hendrikse is one of only two backline survivors from the second Test who will get the opportunity to start the series decider in Cape Town.

It shows that the Springbok coaching staff are very serious about providing opportunities to players who perform. A local publication gave Hendrikse a rating of 6 out of 10, which I think is pretty harsh.

I felt Jaden managed the game well, kicked effectively, defended soundly and his service was crisp and clean. There were one or two mistakes from him which is expected from anyone let alone a player with three Tests under the belt. The 22-year-old has rightly been given another crack at it.

I think off-field opinion is hard for the players today because everything is on their handheld devices, whereas when I was playing it was newspaper or nothing. When you are a young player, you want to understand what people are thinking and there is this need for feedback.

Sometimes it’s not good because you’ve got to believe in what you’re doing and take the feedback from the places where you need to get it from – the likes of Jacques Nienaber, Rassie Erasmus, teammates and mentors.

It’s difficult because there is criticism from certain corners in terms of the way the Boks play but ultimately Test rugby is about winning. Having known Rassie and played a short time with him, I think this is one of the most detailed and planned Springbok squads in terms of strategy, selection and planning that we have ever seen. With Rassie and Jacques everything is planned out to the finest detail but everyone will have an opinion.

Those are some of the off-field challenges Hendrikse will have to navigate in the embryonic stages of his Test career but, on the field, I like the way he approaches the game. He played with assurance and confidence last week.

I don’t think any Springbok is under illusions of not fighting for their starting place. Faf de Klerk is no different and he won’t think that the number 9 jersey is his whatsoever. He is a fighter and rest assured that when he takes to the field, he is going to be on fire.

When comparing Jaden to Faf, who started the first Test, they have fire in their belly, want to speed up the game, play fast and are quick on the snipe. Hendrikse and De Klerk are pretty similarly matched when it comes to game control. For a guy of his size and stature, Faf has set the benchmark on a defensive front for the men in green and gold. Hendrikse would have already learned a lot from the structures in which he is playing and it’s now about executing consistently at international level.

Hendrikse once again partners Pollard in the 9-10 axis and there is no reason in my mind that Handre would have to shorten up towards the breakdown at any given stage.

Jaden will offer similar if not the same service as Faf and Handre will be quite happy to fulfil his normal role and play as he sees fit. The point of difference is that he hasn’t played with Jaden as many times as he has with Faf and that understanding as a combination will come with time through training sessions and match situations.

In Kurt-Lee Arendse, who was a standout performer in the second Test, it looks like the Springboks have found a little diamond. He is someone who can do everything and hopefully when he next plays for South Africa he will get the ball in hand with more space and time to show how devastating he is. This week Makazole Mapimpi replaces Arendse, who had a tough aerial gig against the towering Liam Williams, George North and Alex Cuthbert, who are some of the best in the business.

I expect the Springboks to revert to type for the decisive Cape Town Test. Given the pack the Boks have picked, it will be about forward ascendancy, set-piece dominance and getting into the right areas of the field. At times, if the opportunity presents itself and we can get a kick return or turnover, we can unleash the Mapimpis and Cheslin Kolbes of the world to break down the defence.

I foresee the Springbok halfbacks looking to control territory and possession. I don’t expect the Boks to play much rugby past four or five phases and it’s about sticking to their strengths. Everybody wants to see Kolbe and Mapimpi with ball in hand and Damian Willemse counter-attacking from the last line but they will play what’s in front of them. The Springboks are pragmatic in terms of approach and it’s all about winning the game and getting the series in the bag.

Eben Etzebeth is set to become the seventh and youngest Springbok centurion in his place of birth. It’s a fantastic achievement for a man who has become a far smarter player. What a servant he’s already been to SA rugby and he’s still got some time to go.

In terms of whether Etzebeth will go down as the greatest Springbok of all time, that debate will always rage on. However, there is no doubt he will be in the top few. To surpass Victor Matfield’s record of 127, 28 Tests is still a long way to go but I have no doubt that Etzebeth can do it and he’ll be spoken of for many years as one of the best.

Following an 11-year career with Saracens, which saw him earn 264 caps, Neil de Kock now works in the rugby division at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport. De Kock, who featured in 10 Test matches for the Springboks, provides RugbyPass with expert insight and opinion focusing on South Africa.