Hendricks ready to give his all for Bulls
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: New Bulls signing Cornal Hendricks cannot wait to show what he is capable of when he returns to playing Super Rugby for the first time since 2015.
Hendricks played 12 Test-matches for the Springboks and he also played for the Cheetahs up until 2015 when he was diagnosed with a heart condition and has been sidelined up until joining the Bulls for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Hendricks started for the Bulls in their 21-17 Super Rugby warm-up victory over the Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Hendricks said that he is fully committed to playing his best rugby at the Bulls.
“I’m trying my best each and every day to get better, I’m going to give my best to this Blue Bulls jersey,” said Hendricks.
Hendricks added that Saturday’s game left him at ease with the reality that he has finally made it back onto the playing field and now he can look forward to focusing on his game.
“Very happy that the first game is out of the way now, all the nerves and everything is gone now, [I am] looking forward to the next one,” explained Hendricks.
Commenting on his performance, Hendricks said that he was forced to put in the hard yards off the ball because he did not receive it too often during the game.
“I didn’t get a lot of ball but if you don’t get a lot of ball you must just work on other aspects.
“I’m focused more on my high ball catching and individual skills,” said Hendricks.
Hendricks, who combined with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and Handrè Pollard for one of the most memorable tries of his career when he dotted down against the All Blacks in 2014, believes that there is still plenty of rugby left in him.
“I’ve worked a lot on my individual skills and haven’t played this game at a professional level in four years but I’m bettering myself every single day and obviously things will get better, but you will definitely see a lot more of those tries which I scored against the All Blacks,” commented Hendricks.
The Bulls will face the Stormers in Super Rugby warm-up match in Cape Town on Sunday, February 3.
Pote Human’s side will do battle with the same opposition in their opening Super Rugby game of the season at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on February 16.
By Josh Isaacson
@isaacson_j
@rugby365com
Super Rugby 2019 – RETURNS FEB 15#SuperRugby #SR2019 pic.twitter.com/EN1BrDLx1D
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugby) January 21, 2019
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