Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has backed Cameron Hanekom to make a major impact against the Glasgow Warriors, writes LINDIZ VAN ZILLA.
The No 8 made his long-awaited return from a knee injury in the Vodacom URC match against Cardiff two weeks ago before another stint as a replacement against Munster.
He replaces the injured Nizaam Carr for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup last-16 clash at Scotstoun Stadium.
Ackermann said he is confident Hanekom is ready for the intensity of knockout rugby.
“We’ve really blooded him since his return. It was about getting enough volume into him first, and then he played the last two games.”
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The Bulls boss believes the 23-year-old’s physical attributes make him ideally suited to the challenge awaiting in Scotland.
“Cameron is renowned for his speed and movement,” he said. “Glasgow are a fast team, with a pack that can move and an exceptional backline, so we felt this was a good opportunity to start him.
“We want to get him on the field early and let him get into the game. It’s an exciting challenge for us and hopefully Cameron will have a good game.”
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The coach also highlighted the importance of balance within his loose-forward combinations, with impact options available off the bench.
“We’ve got guys like Marco [van Staden] and Jeandré [Rudolph] who can come on later and hopefully make a difference,” he said. “If the game is fast, we can bring that impact from the bench.”
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Hanekom is highly regarded in South African rugby circles and recently attended the first Springbok alignment camp of the year.
He earned his only Test cap when he came on as a replacement against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in November 2024.
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Hanekom was named as the URC’s Next-Gen Player of the Season for 2024-25 but his his meteoric rise was halted by a torn hamstring in the URC semi-final in May last year.
Photo: Vodacom Bulls/Facebook
The post Bulls unleash explosive Cam appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has backed Cameron Hanekom to make a major impact against the Glasgow Warriors.
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