South African rugby; According to South African rugby legend Jean de Villiers and Schalke Berger, rampaging bull Cameron Hanekom could play himself into the Springboks team.
Speaking on the latest episode of RPTV’s Box Office, the Rugby World Cup 2007 winners were full of praise for the No 8’s performance in the Bulls’ 25-20 semi-final win over Leinster last weekend.
Jake White’s side face Glasgow in the competition’s decider in Pretoria this Saturday after the Scottish side beat reigning champions Munster 17-10.
South African rugby has a new Springbok-ready ‘beast’.
The uncapped Hanekom, still just 22, took his game to new heights at Loftus-Versfeld, carrying 15 times for 126 meters as well as beating more defenders (six) and making more .He also made his overall calculations. Some of the 17 weigh in with game-changing tackles. The only thing missing was a try.
De Villiers, however, said Hanekom “had an incredible game”. Berger, who won 86 caps in his Springbok career, believes this could be the start of something special, especially as South Africa are now looking for a replacement at the back of the pack for retired No.8 Duane Vermeulen.”For me, I think Cameron Hanekom had a watershed performance in his career,” said Berger, who played his last Test in 2015.
“It was beast mode stuff. Even from the first attack set from Leinster, break the half line, and he was on the ground and gets the turnover. He carried and tackled. What a performance.”Hanekom qualified for Wales because his grandmother was born and raised there, so he has two potential international routes.
South African rugby has a new Springbok-ready ‘beast’.
Berger believes he deserves to wear the green and gold instead of the red soon. “Duane Vermeulen, at No.8, could be a shoe-in, and Jasper Wiese is suspended, so No.8 is one where we see who we’re going to fill in.“Ivan Roos had a chance there. Cameron Hanekom, for me, put his hand up for a performance like that against Leinster and said maybe it’s my time.”