Haashim Pead: Why the Lions star is trusting the process amidst Springbok hype

The near-hysterical narrative that has surrounded Haashim Pead in recent months has clamoured, begged, and angrily questioned why the undoubtedly talented 20-year-old hasn’t been thrust into the frontlines of the Lions’ United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign quicker, more often, and with more impetus.

Perhaps fuelled by a bit of envy, or a bit of spite, but certainly with much excited expectation, South African rugby supporters looking towards the Lions have insisted the rising star that is Pead has been underutilised during the current season. Perhaps, they have argued, the Lions coaching unit do not know what they have in Pead, and maybe he would be better served leaving the union for the likes of the Bulls, Sharks, or Stormers.

Surely, the questionable argument goes, Pead would be better off at those franchises where he can ply his trade in surroundings ‘more suited’ for SA rugby and more befitting his station as the next big thing — the next would-be Springbok superstar.

Who could blame such discussions?

If Pead holds the course, he could truly be something special. He has already made a statement at age-group level after being honoured at the 2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship. Comparisons to France's Antoine Dupont are not far off, either.

With the limited game time afforded to him so far this season — an admittedly ungenerous 138 minutes — Pead has shown flashes of that brilliance.

His overtime heroics against the Sharks in early January in the URC — where he came off the bench for 14 minutes — secured the Lions a vital 23–22 away win. On Saturday, Pead is expected to be in the selection mix, once again against the Sharks, but this time at Ellis Park (kick-off 2pm).

And while many pundits and supporters will assuredly continue to question his selection policy, Pead remains steadfast in his belief that he is being guided to greater things. The former Bishops alum insisted he is blocking out the noise surrounding his current deployment.

It helps that Springbok scrum-half Morne van den Berg is nearby, no doubt.

“At the end of the day, you can only control what you can control,” Pead said, on Tuesday, at the Lions' training at Joburg Stadium. “Coming off the bench hasn't been a bad thing for me at all because I am playing behind Krappie, who is a Bok. I am learning from him.

“It has been very healthy for me and I have been picking up on a lot of things. It has only made me a better player. The coaches also have a plan in what they do. I have to trust the process, trust the system, and things will work out.”

Any possibility that Pead would leave the Lions for their competitors has also been recently shut down after he signed a contract extension with the union. Pead explained his decision to remain in Joburg as he continues to develop his game.

“I felt like this was the best place to go,” said Pead.

“At the Lions, we are trying to build something here; we are trying to get into winning ways and make something Joburg hasn't seen before. I felt for me, it was best to stay.”

* Morgan Bolton is Independent Media's National Sports Editor and editor of our Youtube channel The Clutch