Wessels sheepish over White's future Bok prediction

Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White made a bold prediction last week when talking about his decision to move promising youngster Jan-Hendrik Wessels to hooker.

“He will be a Springbok,” White proclaimed. “It is just a matter of when.”

The former Grey College pupil has excelled while at the Bulls, and until recently was still under-20 level, but playing alongside the seniors in the province. 

But while White sees a massive future ahead of him, Wessels smiles sheepishly when posed the question ahead of the Currie Cup final this week.

“It’s the first time I hear that! But no, it’s good if a coach backs you as that’s all you want,” Wessels said, “There’s lots of time for that later.”

After playing lock and prop at school, his introduction to senior rugby was a torrid one, and Wessels was as surprised as many when he was asked to move to the middle of the front row by White. 

“He asked me on a Thursday, when we had quite a few injuries – I thought I was going to be the third hooker in a worst-case scenario. I didn’t think he had any plan to take it forward,” Wessels said.

“So, I didn’t think it was a big thing, and I thought I would be part of the 26-man group for the weekend’s game to cover for prop and hooker. Later on I thought long and hard about it, and I was a bit shocked – it’s a big thing. The lineouts and scrums just don’t happen by themselves.

“But I am working hard on it, and I am enjoying it. The throw-ins are something you can measure every day, and if you work on it and you grow, then it’s great.”

And while he struggled to initially adapt, the style of play suits his enthusiastic way of thinking and he has been hard at work getting the style right.

“It’s not easy going to hooker – the throw-ins especially, and also the scrums. It’s been challenging,” Wessels said.

“The season played in my favour with Johan Grobbelaar going to the Springboks, and we had injuries at that time, so I got a chance and I think I used it well. Hopefully, I get a chance in the final – it was good to play in the semifinal and a few games before that.

“At the moment, I am still looking at how I am feeling and where I want to play.

“I am enjoying it – it’s nice to get game time, so I don’t want to stick to any position. I will play where the team needs me, and I haven’t got it in my head yet that I want to play prop or hooker.”

One thing is for certain. White wants him on the field. His ball-handling abilities are legendary at schools level and the pace he has as a front-ranker is something few possess.

So to keep him on the field the Bulls will find a position for him. And the more he plays, the more White believes he will edge closer to the Boks.