Sergeal finds he still has plenty to prove
● Sergeal Petersen will most probably remain famous for scoring the Southern Kings’ first Super Rugby tries back in 2013 against the Western Force.
He was not even a year out of the prestigious Grey High School for Boys in Port Elizabeth, but he was already showcasing his pace and talent to the world.
Six years later, after moving from the Kings to Western Province via the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and the 24-year-old from Humansdorp still has plenty to prove.
Traffic at wing is congested
The wing position he occupies has been a busy one in 2018 with the likes of S’busiso Nkosi, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Makazole Mapimpi staking serious Springbok claims.
When Petersen was thrilling crowds in Port Elizabeth five years ago, none of these players were even close to provincial reckoning.
“Injuries put things into perspective in terms of how things can change very quickly. I’ve learnt now that I shouldn’t think too far ahead and I need to deal with it here and now. Now it’s just exciting to be back on the field playing rugby because I’m grateful to be playing again. It’s exciting to be back again. I’ve been out of the game for so long and I’ve enjoyed my first two games back in Currie Cup,” Petersen said.
“If you dwell on the impacts of injuries, it is going to affect how you play because it is still going to be at the back of your mind. My take now is that when injuries are going to happen, they’re going to happen and you have to worry about what you can control. Injuries are part of the game and you have to deal with them as they come.”
Petersen reckons the move to Cape Town has toughened him up for Springbok challenges that could lie ahead.
The Bok wing lane is highly congested to a point where his current Currie Cup captain Dillyn Leyds, a supremely talented utility back, can’t find a way into the set-up.
“I made the move to the Cape to grow as a player. I did what I could as a player in Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein but the next step has to be made. With the depth and the competition here, especially with the outside backs, it can only add value to my game,” Petersen said.
“There wasn’t a lot of depth at the Cheetahs and you could get away with a bad game here and there and not take it to heart. Here, if you have a bad day in the office, there’s someone who can do your job better than you. The talent here is ridiculous and it keeps you on your toes.”