'Eskom' hardly surprised by 'fighter' Jasper Wiese's rise to Springboks' top dog at No 8

While he was only around for about six months to witness him laying the platform for his rise in a Springbok jersey, Marco van Staden is hardly surprised at Jasper Wiese's enhanced reputation.

The tough Bulls flanker joined English champions Leicester in August last year, about nine months after Wiese's move from the Cheetahs and while concussion curtailed that deal, Van Staden was still left in awe of his Bok teammate's influence.

In fact, if one were to perhaps push the ethereally phlegmatic 26-year-old 'Eskom' - as he's nicknamed by his Bulls mates - on the issue, he'd probably admit that Wiese is now the top dog in the national No 8 jersey.

"Jasper is a real fighter, he just never stops," said Van Staden. 

"He just needed the opportunity to show his true colours and ability. That's definitely the platform that Leicester offered him. By doing that, everybody immediately saw that this is a guy who can really play."

Having made his Test debut in last year's British & Irish Lions series after "blowing out the lights" as Rassie Erasmus called it, Wiese went back to the Premiership to consolidate on the start to his international career and returned in 2022 with newfound maturity and class.

The key ingredient is a simple one. 

"Jasper is one of those guys who just doesn't seem to have an off-day, he's so consistent," said Van Staden.

"He goes full tilt in every game, does everything at 120%. He really works hard. Everything he's been rewarded with is fully deserved. I'm really happy for him.

"He's definitely the bedrock of that team. He gives his teammates confidence."

While Wiese has managed to seemingly break down the dominant Bok loose trio of Siya Kolisi-Pieter-Steph du Toit-Duane Vermeulen, Van Staden notes that it's a wholly