Cornal Hendricks says his Vodacom Bulls teammate Stedman Gans is ready for Springbok selection after finishing as the top try-scorer in Super Rugby Unlocked.
Gans has been in fantastic form during Super Rugby Unlocked after leaving the Blitzboks, who he captained during the previous Sevens World Series season, for the Bulls during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The 23-year-old, who played his junior rugby for the Bulls between 2013 and 2015, has had to be patient for an opportunity in their senior team, but has most certainly made his impact as the team’s first-choice outside centre this season.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Hendricks was asked what message he would send to Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber about his midfield partner.
‘I will tell them to pick Stedman Gans on 13. He is currently the on-form 13,’ Hendricks said. ‘I think they [the Springbok coaches] must just check out the youngsters coming through in our backline – Stedman, Kurt-Lee [Arendse] and obviously David Kriel, exciting guys coming through. Travis Ismaiel, as well, is playing very good rugby at the moment.’
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Hendricks also opened up on his partnership with Gans, agreeing that each of their strengths makes them a ‘yin and yang’ to each other.
‘He is the main man in the movie. I just do the dirty work, and he goes and scores all the tries,’ Hendricks explained.
‘Stedman and I have a good relationship, on and off the field. He is very excited, and everyone knows he is a superstar and world-class sevens player. Now he has made his mark in the 15-man code, because the one thing you don’t want people to do is to label you as a sevens player.
‘He has found his feet well, and there is a good chemistry between us – a “bromance” – and I still learn from him. I think we learn from each other every single day, and we are trying to improve the combination for the rest of the competition. We also want to try other combinations, but things are going well between me and him.’
The Bulls are in action this weekend as they travel to Newlands to face Western Province in their first 2020 Currie Cup match on Saturday evening.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
