Rudy Paige: Haashim Pead will be a Springbok ... sooner rather than later

Former Springboks scrumhalf Rudy Paige says Junior Springboks star Haashim Pead has all the attributes to become a star for the Springboks following his incredible performances at the World Rugby Under-20 World Championships.

Pead won the Player of the Tournament award after the Junior Boks beat their New Zealand counterparts in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012.

The speedy No 9 scored six tries and assisted four during the tournament. He also surpassed France star Antoine Dupont’s record for running metres by a scrumhalf at the tournament, racking up 232m from 15 carries during the pool stages.

“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,” Paige said, during an event hosted by Generation Schools in Cape Town on Wednesday.

“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.”

Pead is currently in camp with the Springboks ahead of their home Rugby Championship matches against Australia. He and fellow Junior Boks, flank Bathobele Hlekani and outside centre Cheswill Jooste, were invited to see first hand how the Boks prepare for a big tournament.

Paige, who played 13 Test matches for the Springboks and played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, says Pead’s involvement in the Bok camp is massive for his development, as he will be able to see first-hand what it takes to play for the Springboks.

“I always say you learn a lot through the ears and the eyes. He is going to learn a lot from people like Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, what they do on a day-to-day basis, what they do post training, their habits and what type of questions they ask in team meetings,” the former Bulls scrumhalf said.

“I think being there is going to put him and the others ahead of their peers. It’s going to be three amazing weeks for them with the Boks.

“He still has a lot to learn and needs to play in big competitions such as the United Rugby Championship to develop his game even more. But we are going to see Haashim Pead in a Springbok jersey sooner rather than later. He has all the capabilities to make it.”

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus just week said Pead and other two Junior Boks have fitted in nicely. While he doesn’t foresee them playing any Test matches this year, the Bok mentor is hoping that the exposure will give them the desire and hunger to improve their game and push for a senior call-up.

“The coaches will be involved in the team until 2027, so it’s important for us to continue developing our depth and ensuring that we have at least three players to pick from in each position,” Erasmus said.

“We don’t see the Young Guns playing Test matches this year, but exposing them to this environment and allowing them to participate in all our boardroom and field sessions is great for them to learn.

“They’ve fitted in well and they appear to be enjoying it, while it’s also good for the more experienced players to see the talent that is coming through the ranks.”

The Springboks start their Rugby Championship campaign against the Wallabies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16. The Boks and Aussies will then travel to Cape Town for their second match a week later on August 23.