Bulls speedster credits Willie for breakthrough
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Sebastian de Klerk has scored seven tries in top-flight competition since arriving in Pretoria and he credits Willie le Roux and his Springbok teammates for a rapid rise at the Vodacom Bulls.
“I’ve learnt so much from all the players and all the Springboks, and Willie le Roux helps a lot with all his experience – with how to see the game, how to play the game, and how to handle pressure,” De Klerk said at a press conference on Tuesday as the Bulls prepare to host Northampton on Saturday in round 2 of the Investec Champions Cup.
De Klerk and Le Roux each joined the Bulls in 2023, De Klerk arriving after three years at the Pumas and Le Roux following a four-year spell at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.
Le Roux’s playmaking ability and game management have been a feature of the veteran fullback’s time at the Bulls, and his mentorship has helped De Klerk establish himself as a regular in the first XV.
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“I've improved a lot from the environment at the Bulls,” added De Klerk. “The coaches and players don’t expect anything less than the best, you have to push yourself.
“There’s a good culture within the Bulls system, if I start a game and Canan Moodie or Kurt-Lee Arendse don’t, we will all help each other to make sure the team is fully prepared for the weekend, and if I’m on the bench I'll give my best to prepare them.”
De Klerk scored the Bulls’ only try last week in the 27-5 reverse against three-time Champions Cup winners Saracens in round 1, but he believes they’ll bounce back emphatically at Loftus on Saturday.
“The weather conditions at Sarries were horrible. It’s something a lot of the players had never experienced before,” he said. “Playing at Loftus will definitely suit us and we want to give the home crowd something to look forward to.”
Northampton, currently eighth in the English Premiership, opened the Champions Cup with a 38-8 win against Castres.
Photo by Geraint Nicholas/Gallo Images
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