VIDEO: Springbok Hanekom's absence explained
Today at 01:15 AM
REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has revealed the real reason why Springbok Cameron Hanekom will miss the United Rugby Championship Round 11 match against Sharks.
Hanekom was the standout performer during the Bulls' 33-32 win over the Stormers last weekend at Cape Town Stadium.
However, he will miss this weekend's clash against the Sharks due to a 'contusion' White said.
The loose forward has been impressive and has been invited to the Springboks' alignment camp, which will start on Friday, March 7.
Speaking to reporters, White allayed fears regarding the seriousness of the 22-year-old's omission.
"Cameron has a bang on his leg," the Bulls Director of Rugby told reporters.
"It's a contusion and is just one of those things - he needs a bit of time.
"Especially as an athlete, I don't think currently he can run full-out and then he can end up tearing a muscle.
"He was also a bit sick this week, so it worked out that he was sick the same week he got a bang.
"He got it in that first kick-off where he broke free and made the line-break. He could play with it for the rest of the game, but once he cooled down and then on the aeroplane, it got a bit worse."
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Another topic that took centre stage was the captaincy. Although Nizaam Carr, who is in the leadership group, will start at No.8, White opted to hand the captain's armband to young flanker Reinhardt Ludwig.
The 22-year-old Ludwig takes over the captain's armband from Marcell Coetzee, who failed an HIA after the match against the Stormers.
"He has been captain. I was tempted to make Nizaam Carr captain but I'm not sure going forward, with Marcell Coetzee coming back and Marco van Staden now back, what the combinations are going to look like.
"I know for a fact that Reinhardt will be around for the rest of the season as well based on the fact he can play lock and flank.
"He's been a captain and he has the respect of the players.
"He will be helped by Nizaam Carr and Willie [le Roux] and guys like Harold Vorster, but I'm pretty happy that he knows what we want to get out of the game."
Meanwhile, the coach provided an update on the injured Elrich Louw.
The loose forward suffered a serious knee injury during the Bulls' match against the Lions on January 25.
He underwent surgery, which White revealed went down extremely well.
"The specialist is very happy and positive about what he did and how it worked out.
"He stated that Louw needed time to recover. And we are giving him as much time as he needs."
The Bulls are currently third on the URC log, six points ahead of the fourth-placed Sharks.
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