Wessels: the next big thing?

Is Jan-Hendrik Wessels South African rugby's next great hooker?

- Jacques van der Westhuyzen

According to former Springbok scrum coach Matt Proudfoot, the 23-year-old utility front-row man from the Bulls should be groomed to wear the Springbok No 2 jumper in future.

Wessels (above) has long been considered something of a rugby prodigy, mainly because of his size and speed, and the fact he can play prop and hooker, and Proudfoot says he's the man to take over from Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx when the two Springbok double World Cup winners eventually call it quits.