Newcomer Jan-Hendrik Wessels thrilled to join Springboks for overseas tour

The 23-year-old utility front ranker â- Wessels is equally adept at prop and hooker â- is a product of SA Rugby's Elite Player Development pathway â- he has played for the SA Under-18s and the Junior Springboks and was selected for the South African 'A' team almost two years ago, but missed out on their tour due to injury.

Wessels, who also scored a try on debut for South Africa, said the experience of joining the Boks was everything he thought it would be and that it inspired him even more to become a regular feature in the squad in the next few years.

"It was a surprise and dream come true when I was first selected for the squad, but to get the opportunity to play against Portugal, and now to tour with the team to Australia has made me even hungrier to be part of this special environment," said Wessels, who hails from Bloemfontein but is contracted by the Bulls.

"I know facing Australia and possibly the likes of New Zealand and Argentina will be a completely different challenge, but it excites me immensely.

"The Wallabies are a tough team to face on their home ground, but to be surrounded with so many Rugby World Cup-winners and such an amazing group of players, who are so supportive, and all have the team goal in mind, makes the Springbok set-up unbelievable."

Wessels added: "The fact that this will be my first overseas tour with the Boks will make this moment even more memorable for me, and my only objective is to go out there and give my best for the team if I'm selected to play."

Commenting on what made the team so unique, Wessels said: "There are obviously senior players in the squad, some of whom have won two World Cups, but each player â- young and old â- has their own role to play and they need to take ownership of that responsibility, and the coaches trust us to do that. They also encourage everyone to give their opinions which really makes this squad distinct."

The Springboks had their second day of gym and field training sessions on Tuesday after gathering in Johannesburg on Sunday. They will depart for Australia on Wednesday to allow them sufficient time to acclimatise before their first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday, 10 August.

The Boks will line up against Australia in Perth again a week later on Saturday 17 August, before returning to South Africa for back-to-back Tests against New Zealand in Johannesburg (Saturday 31 August) and Cape Town (Saturday 7 September).

This will be followed by a short trip to Argentina where they will face Los Pumas in Santiago on Saturday 21 September before wrapping up the competition against the same opponents in Nelspruit on Saturday 28 August.

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