Cam for Captain?

Nobody knows who is best suited to take over from Kolisi but the frontrunner seems to be Nortje if popular opinion is to be believed.

I'm on the fence. Nortje is a warrior and has an engine reminiscent of Mostert's, while also getting involved in general play quite well.

Still, and perhaps with time I'll be more convinced but I'm not entirely convinced he's the best in his position. Not yet anyway.

Hanekom on the other hand oozes pedigree. Since his return I've been trying to watch him more closely in games and the man is a coach's dream. He's up off the floor in flash after making hit, constantly trying to reposition as efficiently as he can, hyper aware of his surrounds and influential in most of what he does.

I'm a big Francke fan. I also like Roos despite him doing his best to undermine any feelings I have for him. But Hanekom is better than both of those guys. So if I had to pick a best 8 playing in SA at the moment it would be Hanekom. Of everybody that is available, Wiese still pips him, for me. But Hanekom is undeniable. He has to play and it doesn't matter if it's behind or on the side of the scrum.

That being the case, could he be a candidate for Bok skipper once Kolisi goes? I'll always lean toward long term captaincy because it seems that's mandatory if you want a truly dominant side.

1. Richie McCaw — 2006–2015
2. Iker Casillas — 2008–2016
3. Michael Jordan — 1989–1998

...every truly great sports team I can think of always had long term captains. Waugh was in the job for 5 years, which approaches long term. But the prerequisite is that they must be good enough that their selection would be a no-brainer even if they weren't captain. Kolisi flies directly in the face of that because I'm not sure he's ever been the best in his position but the benefits of having a long term skipper have come though nonetheless.

Some of the older gents aside, it's only really Willemse, Hooker, Moodie, Hanekom and Sacha that are definite starters. I never want Sacha to captain anything. We saw that experiment fail badly this year - I want him unburdened. Willemse is probably the logical pick. But in terms of a true long term captain, Hanekom might just be the guy.

...just some ramblings.

Cam is special.

I'd love to see him named captain . . . don't think it will happen though. Not yet.

I think that in Cam and Sacha, we have potentially the best Bok forward and best Bok back of the modern era . . . playing in the same team . . . at a similar age. It's never looked rosier.

Just hope both steer clear of injuries and controversies.

Although Nortje is a Warrior, he led the mutiny against Jake White. That is not a good characteristic to turn on the coach. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. So he should not be the Captain!

Cameron is like Sacha and should not carry the burden of being Captain. They special players indeed, and need all their focus on staying "special."

Damien Willemse has the goods to be a Captain that leads. He doesn't hesitate to make the right decisions.

I agree, DW is the best choice right now.

You have one game plan with DW at #15 and another with him at #12. Sorted.

Cam for captain….Boks need a forward captain

Definitely not Willemse ... Hanekom or Marx

Definitely not Willemse ... Hanekom or Marx

There is no way in a million years Cam will replace Kolisi as Bok captain this year ... he's not even a starter in the team yet...WTH are y'all smoking? ...Marx is no captain...neither is Nortje...it will be Willemse, Kriel or someone of the old guard.

Well Hanekom is 24, a forward and showing signs of strong on field leadership. Willemse is 28 and hasn’t been a leader yet. I’d say if you want to reinvent a McCaw/Kolisi long term model….a 3 World Cup model…. the answer is obvious.

Problem is Cam has only a single test cap.

DW would be my pick to captain us to our next RWC win. Cam after that.

It's less important to me which of DW, Cam or Sacha skippers the Boks than it is that they stay fit and play together.

...and on cue, Hanekom put in another good performance. He didn't shoot the lights out but he was yet again efficient and doing all the right things.

Draad, I'd say Kolisi needs replacing this year. What's the point of keeping him on for another year? That leaves you less time to settle the new captain in for the WC year. Right now is the perfect time.

Seriously though, almost every podcast I watch is calling for Nortje to take over and I really don't know if that's the play.

If you want a new leader through WC 2027 I’d say the likely candidate is Dud Toit.

Plum, I agree, but the optics makes it dead in the water ...and Cam has done nothing in the Bok jumper yet...Kolisi will be the captain till he retires, regardless how much he plays... it's just how it is.

Oh, I'm not saying Cam should replace him right now.

Perhaps, as others have suggested, Willemse or Marx for a bit and then Cam.

Cam doesn't deserve it yet...ATM he's just potential...

Yes, Draad. I'd say 10-15 caps and then take on the role.

I just want to make it extremely clear that I'm in no way casting Wiese aside and I still rate him the MVP of the Bok pack.

Couldn't be a bigger fan of that lump if I tried.

Also a little scary to see how different a Bok pack with him and without him is. Not even Marx is missed as much when he's not there...and we've been calling Marx the best hooker in the world for eight years now.