Latest news with #Hanekom
The Citizen
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Bulls: Cameron Hanekom's replacement will bring different strengths to the fore
'There will be things that we won't be as good at without a guy like Cameron, but there are things we will be much better at with a guy like Marcell at eight.' The Bulls have said any weaknesses in defence or decrease in impact at the breakdown caused by the loss of star eighthman Cameron Hanekom will be negated by the strengths carried into their URC final by his replacement. Hanekom, the United Rugby Championship's Next-Gen Player of the Season and member of the tournament's Elite XV, suffered a hamstring injury after a cleanout in the second half of their semi-final win over the Sharks last Saturday. While the 23-year-old Springbok was hopeful of a return in time for the final just a week later, Bulls boss Jake White immediately knew it would not be possible. Hanekom's exit opens the door His matchday squad, revealed on Thursday, saw Marco van Staden replace Hanekom in the starting XV though he plays at six flanker, while Marcell Coetzee shifts to No. 8. Both are capped Springboks and have played well for the Bulls this season. 'Marco is a World Cup winner and it's a great test for him. He's playing against [British & Irish Lions flanker] Josh van der Flier. They have obviously played Test match rugby against each other and like anything, when you move the deck chairs, sometimes you get different options as well,' White said. 'There will be things that we won't be as good at without a guy like Cameron, but there are things we will be much better at with a guy like Marcell at eight.' White said this after being reminded of how he said the Bulls had suffered without Hanekom in their regular-season loss to the Sharks at Loftus. White said at the time that the eighthman would have plugged holes that the Sharks exploited. Coetzee and Van Staden bring their own strengths Now, White has rather looked to the strengths Coetzee and Van Staden will bring to the Croke Park final. 'I don't think it really makes any difference – what I am trying to say is Leinster is going to play like Leinster anyway and we are going to have to be good enough to beat them whether we had Cameron filling certain gaps or whether we have got a player who maybe doesn't have the same attributes. 'Who knows, maybe sometimes the attributes that Marcell brings as a No 8 and the fact that he played for Ulster and he understands the Irish way and the fact that he probably played at Croke Park as well… Maybe those are things we also mustn't take for granted.'
The South African
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks: Two major injury blows
The start of the Springboks' 2025 season is just around the corner, and on Thursday coach Rassie Erasmus held a media briefing to tackle a number of key questions. Once again in the interests of transparency, Erasmus painted a clear picture of the injury landscape ahead of the season-opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town on 28 June. Reporting on the injuries in the camp, Erasmus revealed that Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom are all nursing long-term injuries. That news was mostly known already, but it's the serious injury to Hanekom that was confirmed for the first time after he went for scans following last weekend's URC semi-final. It was hoped that Hanekom could have a key role to play for the Springboks in the absence of Louw, but it seems that he will now miss the July internationals, as well as the Rugby Championship. In the absence of Louw and Hanekom, Jasper Wiese will be the obvious option at No 8. And although he should be fit before the start of the Test season, it can't be forgotten that he is also short of game time after only just coming to the end of some injury rehabilitation of his own. Another blow for the Springboks is the fact it was revealed that another candidate at eighthman, Juarno Augustus, has yet to be medically cleared by his club, and he has been unable to report for duty this week. There could now be an opening for Evan Roos, who was recently called up to the squad, while Kwagga Smith and Siya Kolisi can also cover No 8, so there won't be any real cause for panic. Meanwhile, Gerhard Steenekamp, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Lukhanyo Am – as well as Augustus – have to be cleared medically before they will be available for selection. Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams and Makazole Mapimpi, who are also carrying niggling injuries, however, are expected to return to action in the coming weeks. The first week of the training camp will conclude on Friday, with the players reassembling in Johannesburg on Sunday for another week of preparation before departing to Cape Town for the Barbarians match. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Evan Roos' Springbok omission: It's not personal, says Rassie
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has explained Evan Roos' initial omission from the 54-man squad that was named for the Tests against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia. The Stormers loose forward was called up following Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom's hamstring injury. Hanekom sustained the injury during the United Rugby Championship semi-final victory against the Sharks at Loftus. Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Erasmus said: 'It wouldn't be a nice thing to talk team selection now, but I saw the things people wrote. It's definitely not a personal issue.' Erasmus went on to explain that Roos' form – combined with the depth at eight – led to other players getting the nod ahead of him. 'At this stage he's just competing with the best. We all have different opinions on who plays well and who doesn't. In our opinion, he wasn't playing as well as the other guys and that's normally the reason we don't select guys. 'At this stage, Juarno [Augustus; failed to pass an exit medical at Northhampton Saints ahead of his move to Ulster] and Cameron [Hanekom] are out. Evan was not playing as well as the other guys. That's not to say he isn't Springbok level, it's just that Kwagga Smith, Cameron, Juarno, and Siya [Kolisi] can all play eight. 'A guy can be good enough, but there are just two or three guys who we think fit better into what we are trying to do as a Springbok team. Maybe he just doesn't fit that plan or the other guys are a bit more settled.' The Springboks will kick off their season with a historic match against the Barbarians on Saturday, June 28. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Bulls No 8 Hanekom won't play in the URC final, Evan Roos called up to the Springbok squad
The Bulls' Cameron Hanekom suffered a match-ending injury in the URC semi-final against the Sharks at Loftus Versveld on Saturday. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media As the dew was settling on the Bulls' United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat of the Sharks, a disconsolate Cameron Hanekom was hugged by his teammates as he hobbled on crutches, his right leg heavily strapped. It was poignant to see the Bulls players commiserating with the young No 8 who has to live with not participating in this week's final against Leinster in Dublin. The big question now is how long the URC Player of the Year finalist will be out of rugby with the Springbok season looming. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has moved swiftly to address the loose forward situation, calling up Stormers No 8 Evan Roos to cover for Hanekom for the match against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, and the two-Test series against Italy. Bulls coach Jake White provided some clarity on Hanekom's injury, which occurred in the 47th minute of the closely fought contest. Hanekom was cleared out a ruck by Sharks captain Siya Kolisi. He clutched his hamstring in pain and was in discomfort as he left the field on a golf cart. 'Cameron is being given a probe. Obviously, he's very upset, which is natural. He is quite down,' White said. 'I told his parents earlier in the change room that they must remember he is 21-years old with a long future ahead of him. People forget how times have changed in rugby,' White reflected. 'When I started coaching (in the late 90s), 21-year-old forwards weren't invited to Bulls training. The Stormers' Evan Roos will replace Cameron Hanekom in the Springboks' squad. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix 'If they were, it was generally for the old men to bash them on a Monday night at training. 'Cameron has obviously jumped the line because he is so talented, and he feels a bit down now, but we must not forget that he's just 21. There's still a lot of rugby that he's going to be involved in over the next couple of years.' White is hopeful that Hanekom's injury isn't as serious as it appears but confirmed that he won't play in the final. 'When it is swollen and there's blood on it, it is tough to see,' White said. 'They had a look and he won't play against Leinster, that I can tell you.
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks and Bulls suffer huge Cameron Hanekom blow
Bulls loose forward Hanekom will not feature in the URC final against Leinster, and will likely miss part of the international season, after picking up a hamstring injury. Bulls loose forward Cameron Hanekom returns to the side of the field on crutches after going off with a hamstring injury during their URC semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday night. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images The Springboks and Bulls suffered a huge Cameron Hanekom blow when he limped off with a serious looking injury during his side's 25-13 United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday night. Hanekom, who has enjoyed another fantastic season, and was recently named the URC's Next-Gen Player of the Season in recognition of his scintillating form, will now miss the URC final and likely a chunk of the coming international season, where he was expected to feature for the Boks. He picked up a hamstring injury in the second half of the match, after a clean out at the ruck, and after being carted off on the medic golf cart, he returned to the side of the field near the end of the game on crutches. 'He's just having a sonar (scan) now. Obviously he's very upset, that's natural. But I said to his parents now that we forget he's just 21,' said Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White during the post match press conference. 'When I started coaching, 21 year old forwards weren't invited to Northern Transvaal training. And if they were it was really to be cannon fodder for the old men to bash them on a Monday night (in training). 'So he's obviously jumped the queue because he's so talented, and he feels a bit down now. But we mustn't forget he's just 21 years old, and there's still a lot of rugby that he's going to be involved in over the next few years.' Extent unknown Although it is too early to know the extent of the injury, White said that he will definitely be out of the URC final against Leinster in Dublin this coming weekend, but admitted to being hopeful that the injury would not be as serious as it looked when he was taken off the field in obvious discomfort. 'When it is swollen and there's blood (in the injury), you can't really see (how bad it is). They had a look and he won't play next week, that I can tell you. 'He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor (Johan) Goosen went to (after a recent knee injury that also looked very serious),' joked White. 'But I can't see it. He can't travel with that injury. I'm hoping for his sake it's like Goosen, a short-term rather than a long-term injury.' With the Springbok season kicking off at the end of this month with a match against the Barbarians in Cape Town, followed by the Incoming Series against Italy and Georgia in July, unless he is very lucky, Hanekom will probably be ruled out of those four games. We will now have to wait and see whether he will recover in time for the Rugby Championship, kicking off in August, or if he will be ruled out for a number of months, which we will learn once he is properly assessed.
