VIDEO: Training against 'the best in the world' ample prep for Bok prop
VIDEO: Springbok prop Gerhard Steenekamp made his international debut a little over a year ago but says he still learns from the ‘best tightheads in the world’.
This weekend he will come up against the ultimate Test in his career – facing the might of the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
The big Bulls forward was calm and collected when he faced the media in Johannesburg on Monday, saying he will be ready to face big men like Tyrel Lomax or Fletcher Newell on Saturday.
“I train against the best tighthead props in the world every week, so going into a Test like this, I know we have put in the work,” Steenekamp said.
“That gives one the confidence knowing what you are going into.
“We make sure we put in enough work during the week to make sure we are ready for the weekend.”
Since arriving at Loftus as a youngster, the former Potchefstroom Gymnasium captain has become an instrumental figure in the forward pack.
Over the years, Stenenekamp has progressed through the junior ranks, representing the franchise at the under-19 and under-21 levels before breaking into the senior setup.
He made his Springbok debut in August last year against Argentina in Buenos Aires in the first of three Rugby World Cup warm-up games.
(Article continues below…)
When asked how he feels about facing the All Blacks, Steenekamp said it was a massive honour.
“It is every schoolboy’s dream to play against the All Blacks in a Springbok jersey. For me it is no different.
“If I get the opportunity, I will grab it with both hands and do the best I can for the team and the country.
“I think there isn’t a big or small test match, so for us, we just have to prepare as best we can and try to figure out where their weaknesses lie and try to exploit it.
“We need to try and win every test match and do the best we can,” he commented.
Even though Steven Kitshoff is back in the Bok fold after returning from injury, Steenekamp said he didn’t need any motivation to secure a place in the match-day squad.
“I don’t need more fire under me.
“For me, it’s just an honour to play alongside guys that I have looked up to my entire life.
“Playing provincial rugby and looking up to those guys and now being able to learn from them and playing with them…
“I just try to learn as much as possible in every session.”
He revealed that the nervous ‘butterflies’ in his stomach are always there, no matter which game he is set to play.
“The butterflies in the stomach never go away before any rugby match. I think the day they are not there is the day I will be done.
“If the excitement isn’t there anymore, you are here for the wrong reasons. I can’t speak for the other players, but the day they are gone I will be done,” he said.
Coming off two emphatic victories over the Wallabies in Australia, Steenekamp says the Springboks could not get more confidence out of a tour.
“I think we came out of the tour with a lot of confidence. But this is a different horse we are saddling up this weekend.
“Every Test is different.
“It will take more plans but I think we can build on the momentum that we have built up.”
