Rising Springboks: Hlekani, Pead and Jooste Answer the Call
- House Rugga
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has rewarded South Africa’s U20 World Champions by inviting three of their stars, blindside flanker Bathobele “Batho” Hlekani, scrum-half Haashim Pead, and outside back Cheswill Jooste, to the senior camp ahead of the Rugby Championship. All three were key to the Baby Boks’ breakthrough title run, and their selection is explicitly part of a “long-term integration plan” to bring fresh talent into the national setup. Erasmus stresses that the two-week camp in Johannesburg will “expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level”, underlining the Springboks’ drive for squad depth, he noted the squad now has roughly “three players covering each position” to stay ready for 2027 and beyond. In short, the call ups signal that the coaching staff believe these juniors can be groomed into future Springboks.
Haashim Pead – The Dynamic Scrum-Half
Haashim Pead (#9) was a standout scrum-half in South Africa’s U20 championship win, and now joins the Springbok camp to learn from the senior squad. At 19, Lions prospect Haashim Pead has already turned heads as a modern, all-round scrum-half. He was vice-captain of the Junior Boks and “set the tournament alight as the standout scrumhalf” in Italy. Analysts highlight Pead’s breakneck pace and instinctive running, along with intelligent passing and kicking. For example, one pundit noted his running, defence, and kicking skills are all elite, and that his “best attribute is how well he reads the game”. In fact, Pead shattered U20 records, he led all scrum halves with 232 metres gained and 8 try involvements (6 tries & 2 assists) in just three pool games. Rugby observers have compared his explosiveness to the likes of Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe, noting that despite Pead’s taller frame he blends savvy box kicking with line-breaking flair. The IOL preview even suggests Pead could be “the perfect understudy” to Springbok No.9, Morné van den Berg, if given regular Currie Cup minutes. In short, Pead’s combination of quick service and sniping breaks, along with a growing kicking game, mark him as an elite prospect.
Key attributes: rapid acceleration and line breaks, exceptional game vision and box kicking, high tackle rate and toughness despite light frame.
Projection: Already dubbed a future Bok by fans and coaches, he’s expected to push for a URC debut soon and challenge veterans like Jaden Hendrikse and Morné van den Berg for the No.9 jersey. If he continues at this pace, analysts believe a Springbok cap by 2026 is plausible & potential 2027 RWC campaign,
Cheswill Jooste – The Lightning Wing
Winger Cheswill “Chessie” Jooste is another dynamic runner in this crop. A Bulls Academy product, Jooste terrorized defenders with his agility and try scoring nose in the U20s. Observers likened his style to Cheslin Kolbe, “remarkable little winger” who defies his size, because Jooste’s pace, sidestep and competitive spirit stood. Rugby365’s Team of the Tournament noted:
“Cheswill Jooste… is an astonishing blend of pace, dynamism and cussedness… He is only 73 kilograms, but his power-to-weight ratio is off the charts."
He registered 9 line breaks and 3 tries in the U20 series, illustrating his finishing instincts. The Bulls’ open style should complement him, teammates can get him the ball out wide to exploit space, much as they do for Kolbe or Aphelele Fassi. Even now Jooste chases high kicks and finds work behind the breakdown, showing a well rounded game beyond pure speed.
Key attributes: explosive acceleration and footwork, sharp try scoring instinct and finishing, fearless aerial coverage on kicks.
Projection: Jooste must now translate his junior heroics to senior rugby. With veterans like Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi likely phasing out, Jooste provides much needed speed on the wing. If he nails a place with the Bulls in the URC, he could soon vie for a Bok wing spot by the next World Cup cycle, essentially a similar trajectory as Kolbe had coming through.
Bathobele “Batho” Hlekani – The Bulldozer Flanker
On the flanks, Batho Hlekani is pure collision power. At 19 he already looks the part of a Springbok loose forward, 1.93m tall with almost 115kg of muscle, and was called “the physical heartbeat of the Baby Boks” for good reason. In Italy he consistently laid bone rattling tackles, earning descriptions like“trying to tackle Hlekani is like throwing yourself at a charging buffalo”. Yet he’s more than just a battering ram, coaches praise his all around skill set. He is s a versatile loose forward with great lineout and breakdown skills and a talent to watch from that campaign. He carries hard into contact and can offload or find support runners, his ball carrying merges precision melded to brute force. Having a lineout reach of 1.93m and 115kg frame makes him a sleeper as a lineout caller or decoy option too.
Key attributes: ruthless tackles and impact running, solid ball carrying and breakdown work (able to sniff out gaps and offload), useful second jumper in lineouts.
Projection: The Springbok back row is currently led by Siya Kolisi and Pieter Steph du Toit, both in their 30s. Hlekani offers a successor-in-waiting on the blindside. His arrival plugs a future gap, as one rugby writer put it, he “doesn’t just add bulk, he adds a keen rugby brain to his power,” balancing brute force with savvy play. In the Sharks set up he should get loaning Camp minutes soon, on this form he has the attributes to wear a Springbok 6 jersey in the coming years, especially when a fresh injection of forward grunt is needed.
Fit and Future in the Springboks
Looking ahead, pundits are already penciling in these three as parts of South Africa’s next generation. Analysts noted that Pead might well make his senior debut around 2026, while Jooste and Hlekani should follow if their Currie Cup form holds up. Given the Springboks’ hunger to replenish the squad (especially with the 2027 RWC looming), these youngsters have a real opportunity. As one commentator put it: they have “the instincts of top international players” and a taste of success from the U20 triumph, both of which bode well for Bok jerseys in their near future. In short, Pead, Jooste and Hlekani have the tools and the platform, the camp will determine whether they can translate junior promise into Springbok potential.
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