Cam: Trokkie an exceptional player

Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom is relishing the prospect of going head-to-head with Ulster’s Juarno Augustus at Loftus on Saturday.

Augustus arrives in Pretoria for the URC clash on the back of a Man of the Match performance against Zebre Parma in the EPCR Challenge Cup last weekend.

Asked about the possibility of facing the former Stormers No 8, Hanekom was full of praise.

“I’ll give it everything I’ve got. I don’t have any personal history with him. He’s an exceptional player and was unlucky to be injured a while back [when in Springbok contention],” Hanekom said.

“I think it will be a good challenge, and I’m excited to see how the teams go.”

Ulster lost their opening URC match at home to Edinburgh (34-29) before drawing away to the Glasgow Warriors (33-33) and at home to Munster (26-26).

“Ulster are always a class act,” Hanekom said. “They’ve got a good team, they’ve got a good system. Maybe a slow start [to the season], but you never know what happens.”

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Hanekom is steadily rediscovering his best form after a lengthy injury layoff.

The Springbok loose forward was named Man of the Match against the Lions two weeks ago before producing another strong performance in Saturday’s 56-20 Investec Champions Cup win against Stade Français.

“Some of them I didn’t fix,” Hanekom said of the areas he had tried to improve following the Lions match.

“That’s the luck of the game, at least, that we can get another opportunity to go out there and work on the things that need work.

“The confidence is coming slowly but surely, but I’ll never be over-confident. There’s always space for improvement, and I’m always willing to learn.”

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Hanekom also emphasised the importance of adapting his game to different opponents.

“I wouldn’t say I have a set-in-stone way of playing,” he said. “Every team gives you different pictures, and you must be able to adapt fast enough to do what’s coming your way.”

With the Bulls building momentum, the 24-year-old warned against taking their recent success for granted.

“We must just remember what we’re capable of, but also not think that it’s just going to happen for us.”

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images