Khutha Mchunu is inspired by fellow Vodacom Bulls front-row bruisers Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Gerhard Steenekamp to step up and pack down in the Test arena.
Mchunu joined the Bulls from the Sharks last season and has featured prominently for the Herd in the 2024 Currie Cup following a handful of appearances in the 2023-24 Vodacom URC and Champions Cup.
Speaking in a Bulls conference on Tuesday, the 27-year-old emphasised the role that Springboks Wilco Louw and Akker van der Merwe have played in his development while highlighting the progression of Wessels and Steenekamp.
A regular member of the Bomb Squad in 2024, loosehead Steenekamp made his Bok debut last year. Used primarily at hooker by the Bulls, Wessels scored a try during his maiden bow in the green and gold No 1 jersey against Portugal in July.
“The guys in the front row like Akker, who’s been around, and Wilco who’s an extremely good tighthead. And me being a tighthead that’s probably the one guy I go to and ask for advice and how I can become better,” Mchunu told reporters.
“They’re always willing to share knowledge.
“Jan-Hendrik, who for us was playing at hooker and has now gone to the Springboks and is playing loosehead… seeing him get the opportunity at international level really does give you an indication that the selectors and Rassie [Erasmus] are watching.”
“And it gives you hope that one day you can also make that step up,” he added.
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“Gerhard, what a guy as well, someone who has gone through so many injuries with his knees and to come back now – and look where he is, playing for the Springboks.
“It really makes one strive for more and know that at the end of day there’s always a chance for you to make the step up. You just need to work on your game and try and play week in, week out, because I probably think that was the biggest thing for Gerhard.”
Unbeaten with three games left of the regular season, the Bulls host Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in round 8 of the Currie Cup on Friday.
On balancing title aspirations with challenging for a spot in Jake White’s Bulls matchday 23 for the opening weeks of the 2024-25 URC, Mchunu explains, “We’ve had a great start, having not lost a game but it’s a little bit of pressure. We’re looking forward to taking it a game at a time and seeing how the season unfolds.
“The big thing for us is that firstly, we’ve been together [as a squad] since the URC started; and secondly, we’re really taking pride in the Currie Cup. We look forward to playing in the competition and that’s a major boost for us psychologically.
“It’s probably not something you talk about but at the back of your mind you know [playing well in] the Currie Cup puts you in a good position for the URC. But if you look too far ahead, you might miss the opportunity right in front of you.
“At the moment, for us, it’s about trying to do well in the competition and hopefully go all the way and whatever happens from there, happens.
“Whether or not you get more game time in the URC is out of your hands. We do need to give the Currie Cup the respect it deserves … and look how many Springboks have come from the Currie Cup.”
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
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