Springbok prop Gerhard Steenekamp won’t be rushed back into play as Vodacom Bulls chief Jake White lauds the development of another Test scrummager at Loftus.
The 28-year-old Steenekamp, who has made nine starts in 12 appearances for the Bulls this season, hasn’t featured for the Pretoria outfit since early March when an minor procedure on a knee injury developed into a more serious setback.
“It sounds like a cliche – it is work in progress. He is back in training and he is working hard. It is now a question of how long it will take for him to be spot-on and ready to play,” White said after last week’s Vodacom URC round 17 win over Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld.
“He went for a cleanout on his knee and unfortunately there were complications. One of the wounds got a bit infected, and the infection got worse and worse.
“They then had to clean the wound and over time, because it was a knee injury, you can’t rush it.”
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The Bulls director of rugby emphasised that reintroducing Steenekamp at this juncture in the campaign presents additional challenges.
“You can’t just bring him back and give him 20 or 30 minutes off the bench, because it could possibly be a knockout game where we will be playing against an international front row,” White said.
“As soon as he is ready and as soon as he is confident, then we can make a call.”
While Steenekamp continues his rehab, fellow Springbok Jan-Hendrik Wessels has seized his opportunity in the No 1 jumper.
“I’m not moving away from telling you guys I think he can be a phenomenal front-row player anyway. But I’m obviously happy that the lights have come on,” White said of the versatile Wessels, who has also starred at hooker.
“I’ve said it many times that I rate him highly and maybe that [the Bulls’ win in Glasgow last month] was the game that he needed to realise that he can jump up to the next level. He was Os du Randt-like.
“I don’t say that lightly because Os to me is probably the best loosehead prop South Africa has ever had and probably one of the best the world has ever seen.”
White’s Bulls end the URC league phase with a home clash against the Dragons on Saturday before turning their attention to a quarter-final on 31 May. A win would guarantee a semi-final at Loftus if the Herd advance.
Photo: Gallo Images
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