Venter ripe for the picking for Boks

It is not a matter of “if” but rather “when” Andre-Hugo Venter plays for the Springboks. He is currently the most impressive South African-based hooker in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and Champions Cup.

Venter has played with the enthusiasm of a teenager, the intensity of a heavyweight and the maturity of a veteran for the Stormers in the past two seasons. He is just 22 years old. Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi are the incumbent Springbok hookers and both are double World Cup winners.

Marx is considered by many, myself included, as the best hooker in the game. Mbonambi isn’t far behind in his global standing. Veteran Deon Fourie, who primarily plays flank, covered for Marx and Mbonambi at the World Cup — and ended up playing the final 77 minutes of the World Cup final against the All Blacks at hooker because Mbonambi was injured.

He was superb, and even captained the Boks in the final minutes. Fourie won’t be a consideration for the 2027 World Cup but Venter most definitely will be, as support to Marx and Mbonambi, and good enough to start whenever needed.

Stormers coach John Dobson has, from the outset, backed Venter’s qualities — as a player and human being — and there has been meticulous planning around his game time, his role as a finisher and just when to give him the starting responsibilities.

Whatever the occasion and the role,

Venter has thrived. Rugby is in Venter’s genes. His father is Andre Venter, iconic for the Springboks as a flanker in the mid to late 1990s.

The younger Venter would have grown up understanding and appreciating the work ethic required to be the very best of the Springboks because his father set the standard in fitness, conditioning and attitude in playing for his country.

Venter Snr epitomised every quality of the

Venter has played with the enthusiasm of a teenager, the intensity of a heavyweight and the maturity of a veteran for the Stormers in the past two seasons

Springboks, as an individual and as a player. His teammates were awed by an on-field engine that never died and a mentality that mastered discipline. Venter Jnr is of similar ilk.

Dobson, in starting with Venter against Sale Sharks, spoke of the intensity the young hooker brings to the game, at set piece and in open play. In his two seasons at the Stormers, Venter has shown offloading skills, an ability to finish a try like a winger and, most crucially, an appetite for the set piece.

He is also a natural thrower of the ball and comfortable with a dart in his hand. Dobson’s mantra at the Stormers has always been that he and his coaching team make Springboks and don’t rely on buying a dozen Springboks each season.

In the past two seasons, that has been so true, with Fourie becoming the oldest Springbok on debut and flyhalf Manie Libbok going from Bulls and Sharks discard to Stormers sensation and Bok regular in 2023.

Dobson’s belief in the type of player that speaks to the rugby DNA of the province has been at the heart of his success. His player identification has delivered the results, and his team selections speak to the people of every suburb in the Western Province.

Dobson’s Stormers are the most transformed in the history of the club, and a leader in transformation in South African rugby.

The coach’s belief in Lions and Bulls reject Wandisile Simelane attests to the mantra of making Springboks, and the 25-year-old —a sensation at under-21 level — will find a saviour in Dobson and the Stormers.

Dobson has always been prepared to trust youth, and utility backs Sacha Mngomezulu (21), Suleiman Hartzenberg (20), lock Connor Evans (20) and Venter (22) and Evan Roos (23) represent a golden generation.

Add the names of loose-forwards Hacjivah Dayimani (26), Nama Xaba (26), Ben-Jason Dixon (25), Adré Smith (26), Ruben van Heerden (26) and established Boks Damian Willemse (25) and Libbok (26), and Dobson’s biggest victories are in the players he makes

— and not just the results he gets.