If ever you had any doubts about Cameron Hanekom as a rugby player, check out a special video on the United Rugby Championship YouTube channel.
It was posted on October 18 last year, and is a nearly six-minute Hanekom montage that would make every Bulls fan froth at the mouth.
Of course, the 22-year-old Bulls No 8 has made his name as a barnstorming ball-carrier, equally able to mix it up with the big boys at close quarters and the speedsters in the wide channels.
But perhaps the most impressive moment of that highlights reel was the first breakdown steal that Hanekom made, where he got his timing to absolute perfection as he first made the tackle and then swung around to clinch the ball on the ground.
It is that willingness to get his head into ‘dark spaces’ that sets him apart from the many other quality loose forwards in South Africa, and resulted in a long-awaited Springbok debut against Wales in Cardiff last November.
If it wasn’t for injury, Hanekom would’ve had a few more than just his single Test cap.
Hailing from Ceres in the Western Cape, and having attended Paarl Boys’ High, he is certainly someone whom the Stormers missed out on.
But the Bulls are reaping the rewards of the investment in him, and he has continued to shine in recent months.
Next Saturday’s much-anticipated showdown with the Stormers at the Cape Town Stadium (2pm start) will pit Hanekom against one of his main rivals for a Bok berth, Evan Roos.
The Stormers star has also had his battles with injuries, and is now also fighting his way back into the Bok reckoning.
But even before these two young superstars of SA rugby clash heads next weekend, hasn’t Hanekom already made a case to seriously push for the Springbok No 8 jersey?
Coach Rassie Erasmus’ favourite at the moment is Jasper Wiese, who has repaid the faith shown in him with a number of powerful displays over the last few seasons.
The best of those was surely the eight-minute second-half cameo in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks, particular the manner in which Wiese picked up the ball at the back of a wildly moving scrum just outside the Bok 22 and took a few Kiwis with him to ground to close out the victory.
But we all know Wiese’s limitations in certain aspects, especially his handling and lack of pace, areas in which Hanekom is superb in.
Wiese also may not be as sharp as he was previously when he joins the national team again, as he now plays his club rugby in Japan for Urayasu D-Rocks after leaving English giants Leicester Tigers.
Bulls star Hanekom can bring a totally different dynamic to the Bok loose trio. He seems to be a mix of a Duane Vermeulen and Pierre Spies of yesteryear – rugged and tough, but also quick across the ground.
With the South Africans keen to expand their attacking style even further this year under Tony Brown’s watch, the July Tests against Italy and Georgia present Erasmus with an ideal opportunity to hand Hanekom the No 8 jersey.
If he comes through those games with his reputation enhanced, then why can’t he start in the massive Rugby Championship Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand?
Having already got the better of Lions No 8 Francke Horn last week, Hanekom will want to continue on that trajectory against Roos next weekend, and ensure that Erasmus can’t ignore his claims any longer.