Get ready to see Haashim Pead swap his Junior Boks kit for the iconic green and gold of the Springboks, and according to former Bok scrumhalf Rudy Paige, it won't be long. Paige, who has been keenly watching Pead's rise, couldn't help but sing praises for the young scrumhalf after his stellar performance at the World Rugby U20 Championship. It's clear that Pead's recent fireworks on the field, where he helped South Africa secure their first title since 2012, have set expectations sky-high.
Paige's first impression of Pead was notably positive, remarking, "When I met him, I really liked how he sees the game and his hunger to evolve as a player and go to bigger heights," he explained. His skills on the pitch seem to match his ambition, with Paige noting, "On the field, he ticks all the boxes. His fundamentals are really good and he has got the pace. But he also has the instincts and his feel for the game is superb."
"We must celebrate him and what he has achieved in his short career and what the team achieved. He has got a really bright future ahead of him."
The recent tournament saw Pead tearing up the record books, where he danced through defenses to score six tries and smash Antoine Dupont’s previous best by racking up 232 metres from a mere 15 carries. This performance didn't just win him accolades but also an invitation to join the Springboks camp, alongside fellow up-and-comers Bathobele Hlekani and Cheswill Jooste.
Paige believes that rubbing shoulders with seasoned pros like Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach in the Boks camp will only sharpen Pead's edge. "I always say you learn a lot through the ears and the eyes," Paige commented. He's confident that absorbing the daily routines and the insightful questions posed in team meetings will be crucial for Pead.
"We are going to see Haashim Pead in a Springbok jersey sooner rather than later. He has all the capabilities to make it."
With such high praise coming from seasoned veterans and his trajectory pointing steeply upwards, it seems the rugby world might just have a new star in its constellation. And if Paige's predictions hold true, Haashim Pead is a name we'll be hearing a lot more of, both on and off the field.