Gerhard Steenekamp Gerhard Steenekamp hopes to be back for the Bulls in the URC playoffs. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
While Jan-Hendrik Wessels is flourishing at loosehead prop for the Bulls, the Pretoria side are actually missing another Springbok in Gerhard Steenekamp.
The 28-year-old Steenekamp sustained a knee injury a few months ago that was initially going to keep him sidelined for a short period.
But he has been out of action since mid-March, which has seen miss out on fixtures against Leinster, Zebre, Bayonne, Edinburgh, Munster, Glasgow and now Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld (4pm start).
The big No 1 from Potchefstroom was an integral part of the Bulls’ journey to the 2022 and 2024 URC finals, and became a Springbok as a result, where he is the undoubted understudy to Ox Nche.
Wessels was set to be a hooker and a back-up loosehead this season, but has now become the leading No 1 at the union in Steenekamp’s absence.
On Friday, Bulls boss Jake White gave some insight into Steenekamp’s situation, and was happy to declare that the former schoolboy No 8 is back in training.
“He went actually for a clean-out on his knee, and unfortunately there was... I’m not saying complications, I think one of the wounds just got a little bit infected, and the infection got worse and worse,” White said.
“So, they had to not redo it, but they had to then go and clean the wound. And then over time, because it’s a knee injury, it’s not something you can rush back.
“And when it was swollen, they restarted the process again. So, what was supposedly going to be a very in-and-out operation turned out, through the infection, to be much longer and much more difficult for everyone.
“So, he’s fine. I mean, everything’s fine. His knee’s perfect. I just think they put him back a bit because of the infection that didn’t go away over a period of time.
“He’s back in training, he’s working hard. It’s now a question of how long will it take for him to be spot-on and be able to play.
“And it’s not going to get any easier, because as we go deeper in the season now, it gets to knockout rugby and it’s almost test-like as we get to the end.
“So, you can’t just bring him back and give him 20 minutes, 30 minutes off the bench because it could quite possibly be a knockout game, and we’ll be playing against international front row.
“As soon as he is ready and as soon as he’s confident, then obviously we can make a call. But at this point in time, he’s doing everything he can just to make sure that he can get back onto the field.”
Meanwhile, White also expressed his surprise at a media report that another Bulls loosehead prop, Simphiwe Matanzima, has supposedly joined the Sharks.
The Planet Rugby website reported on Friday that the 27-year-old front-rower has signed a deal with the Sharks to join them next season.
Matanzima played off the bench in the recent tour wins against Munster and Glasgow, and White was not impressed about the situation.
“There’s a lot of things in the paper that I read... that you guys know more than me,” White said.
“I read today that one of my props (Matanzima) is signed with another franchise. I didn’t even know that (as) my prop is still under contract for two years.
“So again, I’ll ask you guys the question: I didn’t realise that you can sign a guy when he’s got two years left.
“If you’ve got two years left, you can’t really chat to a player while he’s still under contract. And again, I’ve heard the same about Kurt-Lee Arendse.
“I’m concerned because there seems to be no watchdog when it comes to who’s signing who, when they’re going, who’s talking to who, who goes overseas, who can stay.
“I mean, all the sort of things are fascinating to sit on the outside and look. Another player signed for another franchise, and all I hear about is salary caps and restrictions and all that sort of stuff.
“I read today, Simphiwe wants to go to the Sharks. He’s got two years left on his deal.
“So next year, you’re going to tell me, isn’t it amazing? The stats show that your loosehead prop makes less tackles than the one you had last year.
“And (that’s) probably right, because the loosehead prop I had this year has gone to another club.”
Bulls Team
15 Willie le Roux 14 Canan Moodie 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sebastian de Klerk 10 Johan Goosen 9 Zak Burger 8 Cameron Hanekom 7 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 6 Marcell Coetzee 5 JF van Heerden 4 Cobus Wiese 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Alulutho Tshakweni 18 Mornay Smith 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Marco van Staden 21 Keagan Johannes 22 Devon Williams 23 Stedman Gans.
Related Topics: