Rob Houwing I There's Joost-like zeal to Jaden's defending

Sport24 chief writer 

Jaden Hendrikse may still only be five caps into his international career, but it is probably fair to describe Saturday as his biggest and most important match for the Springboks yet.

It doesn't get much more prestigious, does it, than South Africa v New Zealand at Ellis Park?

Almost instantly, seasoned rugby enthusiasts are highly likely to conjure up imagery of one of the most iconic, poignant Tests ever … the 1995 World Cup final between those arguably grandest of all foes at the edgy Johannesburg venue.

With due respect to Nelspruit, which played worthy host in its own right to last weekend's first encounter of 2022 between the two, Ellis Park stays the spiritual home of the Boks … a temple they strive especially hard not to lose at.

Hendrikse, the Webb Ellis Cup-holders' 22-year-old investment for a hopefully lengthy future, makes just a third start in the green and gold after making two in the recent bilateral series against Wales.

It is almost, of course, a fourth, as he played all but one minute of last week’s Mbombela fixture after dramatically having to replace stalwart figure Faf de Klerk soon after the dust had settled on the haka.

The Sharks player earned widespread praise for how seamlessly he picked up the baton, given the rare circumstances.

Now he is the designated No 9 -- with all the different mental pressures that can involve -- a few days onward as Siya Kolisi and company aim to only turn screws on their vulnerable opponents and while De Klerk continues his recovery from the severe head-knock he took.

Hendrikse will know that the blond dynamo, all going to plan, should be back in the selection frame by the time the Boks continue their Rugby Championship journey against Australia in just