Former Springbok prop Richard Bands attributes Gerhard Steenekamp’s rise up the South African front-row ranks to his diverse skill set and mental toughness.
The three-Test Steenekamp featured prominently for the world champion Boks in the recent series against Ireland, which finished in a 1-1 draw after a 25-24 win for the visitors at Kings Park on Saturday.
Last week’s victory for the Boks at Loftus Versfeld was special for Steenekamp, who was a member of the Bomb Squad pack that completely overpowered the Irish scrum late in the game to be awarded a penalty try.
Speaking to Sunday newspaper Rapport, Bands lauded the intensity and grit shown by the 27-year-old at the Vodacom Bulls, as Steenkamp transitioned from the back row to loosehead prop after high school.
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“After [a training] session, I called Gert Andries [van der Merwe, his agent] and said here you have caught a gem and he will soon be playing Bok,” said Bands, who played 11 Tests for South Africa and is fondly remembered for his 2003 solo try against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
“I tried to break him, but his mental toughness is on another level. He is strong in the head and strong as a person.
“He has speed, is a baller and has nice soft hands. And we saw against the Irish what he does in the scrum.
“You sit with a strong prop with a flank’s mentality to steal ball as well. He will play a lot of rugby for the Boks.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
The post Bok prop with ‘flanker’s edge’ praised appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
