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Johannesburg – Springbok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp says it will be a huge boost for him to have Gary Botha scrumming next to him at the Bulls.
The Bulls started training again on Monday after their festive break, with hooker Botha back after an absence of two seasons.
As far as Steenkamp goes, the end of 2009 was probably not a highlight as he was part of the Bok midweek side that got a hiding in the scrums from the Leicester Tigers.
Steenkamp, who has played in 22 Tests, was also injured in that game and had to return to South Africa.
The Blue Bulls’ scrumming at times proved a weakness in their march to the Currie Cup title, but Steenkamp is unconcerned and he is full of hope ahead of the 2010 season.
“It does not worry me. The tour was difficult because the guys in the midweek side were not really familiar with one another,” said Steenkamp.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Gary again. He learned overseas (at Harlequins) about how those guys scrum, and we can learn from him. We scrummed well together when we were still team-mates in 2007.”
He terms Botha a “true team man”, who will also do invaluable work in the tight loose.
Currie Cup captain Derick Kuün will move back to flank following Botha’s arrival.
Springboks such as Steenkamp, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez and Morné Steyn are training hard again for a season in which it will be difficult to improve on the previous one.
However, Steenkamp believes the Bulls can build on that.
“We were blessed with a great season last year. We take it week by week and day by day, but we have goals for the season. We want to improve, and play and train even harder,” said Steenkamp.
Former Springbok prop Balie Swart occasionally helps tweak the Bulls scrum.
Steenkamp and Werner Kruger were the Bulls’ regular props in 2009, with Jaco Engels and Dean Greyling as understudies.
They are all available again this year and even though Frik Kirsten is still recovering from a neck injury, new acquisition Bees Roux will strengthen the Bulls. He can scrum on both sides.
Johannesburg – Springbok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp says it will be a huge boost for him to have Gary Botha scrumming next to him at the Bulls.
The Bulls started training again on Monday after their festive break, with hooker Botha back after an absence of two seasons.
As far as Steenkamp goes, the end of 2009 was probably not a highlight as he was part of the Bok midweek side that got a hiding in the scrums from the Leicester Tigers.
Steenkamp, who has played in 22 Tests, was also injured in that game and had to return to South Africa.
The Blue Bulls’ scrumming at times proved a weakness in their march to the Currie Cup title, but Steenkamp is unconcerned and he is full of hope ahead of the 2010 season.
“It does not worry me. The tour was difficult because the guys in the midweek side were not really familiar with one another,” said Steenkamp.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Gary again. He learned overseas (at Harlequins) about how those guys scrum, and we can learn from him. We scrummed well together when we were still team-mates in 2007.”
He terms Botha a “true team man”, who will also do invaluable work in the tight loose.
Currie Cup captain Derick Kuün will move back to flank following Botha’s arrival.
Springboks such as Steenkamp, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Fourie du Preez and Morné Steyn are training hard again for a season in which it will be difficult to improve on the previous one.
However, Steenkamp believes the Bulls can build on that.
“We were blessed with a great season last year. We take it week by week and day by day, but we have goals for the season. We want to improve, and play and train even harder,” said Steenkamp.
Former Springbok prop Balie Swart occasionally helps tweak the Bulls scrum.
Steenkamp and Werner Kruger were the Bulls’ regular props in 2009, with Jaco Engels and Dean Greyling as understudies.
They are all available again this year and even though Frik Kirsten is still recovering from a neck injury, new acquisition Bees Roux will strengthen the Bulls. He can scrum on both sides.
