Steenekamp backs the Bulls
CONSIDERING the Bulls’ struggles on their United Rugby Championship (URC) tour, it was almost a blessing in disguise for prop Gerhard Steenekamp that he had to return home – to get married.
The Currie Cup champions had been dismantled by a high-octane display from Leinster to go down 31-3 in Dublin last September, and a long three weeks lay ahead for the Pretoria side.
Instead, Steenekamp was able to fly back to South Africa for his wedding to now wife Elbie the following weekend, and missed the games against Connacht, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
“It’s much more enjoyable than what people made it sound like before the time – no, I’m just joking,” he said when asked how married life has been treating him.
“It’s very, very nice, and it’s great to be back again (with the Bulls) and be part of the team. I couldn’t fly back to Europe, due to that quarantine period and things like that. But it’s really good to be back and be part of the team, as you become a bit lonely when you are not with the team.
“But it was also great to be with my wife for two to three weeks, especially after the wedding.”
The Bulls managed to beat Cardiff 29-19, but lost to Connacht and Edinburgh as they battled to keep up with the physical intensity and speed with which the European teams play.
Steenekamp managed to keep an eye on his team during his break, and believes the Bulls can make the necessary adjustments to be successful in 2022, despite ending last year with a 30-16 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.
They will start the new year tomorrow in the Currie Cup opener against the Pumas in Mbombela (7pm kick-off).
“I watched all of the games, and I think we just have to adapt. It’s quite difficult with the weather conditions, and they had to play on those 4G pitches, which I think also makes a big difference to the players,” he said.
“The more our group grows and plays together, the better we will become to adjust to such situations.
“The break was really good for us. When I came back from the honeymoon, I trained immediately as I feel it is easier to stay fit than to become fit again.
The 24-year-old is quite tall for a front-rower at 1.94m, having been a No 8 previously, and he is a big unit as well at 128kg.
Despite the Bulls’ struggles in the scrums against the Sharks last December – they were missing two tightheads in Mornay Smith and Jacques van Rooyen, with youngster Robert Hunt and makeshift No 3 Lizo Gqoboka enduring a long night at Kings Park – Steenekamp has become a dependable figure as the first-choice loosehead over the last two seasons.
If he continues producing consistent form, he will hope to get a chance to prove himself at Test level this year, as he is a strong ballcarrier and defender as well.