How Gurthrö got his groove back
Thu, 20 May 2010 16:16
Playing for the team: Pedrie Wannenburg and Gurthro Steenkamp - Pic: Rian Botes
Loosehead prop Gurthrö Steenkamp has been the epitome of the Bulls' march to the 2010 Super 14 play-offs - energetic, forceful, even brutal... but always a pleasure to watch.
What people forget, however is that just six months ago he was part of a Springbok scrum vilified for their performance against Leicester in a midweek match on a disastrous year-end tour - a trip that had some pundits claiming Steenkamp was past his sell-by date and that the Bok scrum was in dire trouble.
It mattered not to the ill-informed critics that the Boks, ill-prepared for the rigours of European winter conditions, had walked into a Tigers ambush - a scrum that included a battle-hardened front row consisting of Italian powerhouse Martin Castrogiovanni, Welsh hooker Mefin Davies and Argentinean loosehead prop Marcos Ayerza.
It did not get any easier for the Boks later on, with Leicester calling upon Test hooker George Chuter on their bench, as well as young Dan Cole who went on to earn his first England caps in the 2010 Six Nations, as Leicester stunned the World Cup holders on a cold and wet Friday evening at 'Fortress' Welford Road in November.
And, if that loss was not bad enough, Steenkamp then had to return to South Africa after injuring his knee; the vultures were circling... calling loudly for him to be consigned to the international scrapheap.
Now, as the Bulls head into their historic Super 14 semifinal showdown with the Crusaders at Soweto's Orlando Stadium on Saturday, Steenkamp's reputation as South Africa's premier loosehead prop has been restored and the Sharks' Beast Mtawarira is not simply the automatic choice he was 12 months ago.
So, where did it all change for Steenkamp? How did the big man get his grove back?
Well, for starters, he started having fun again and the rest - including a fifth Super Rugby semifinal for the Bulls - simply began taking care of itself.
"I know there was a lot of criticism against me for my scrumming at the year-end tour last year, even though there weren't any problems with my scrumming throughout the year," a reflective Steenkamp told rugby365.com.
"We [the Boks] played with a set of forwards that have never played together before and we came up against a Leicester pack that was very impressive, especially in the scrums.
"If I look back at last year, it wasn't such a bad year, since we [the Bulls] won the Super 14 and the Currie Cup."
However, the 28-year-old admitted that all the criticism made him think about his own game again. "I decided I wanted to enjoy my rugby again this year," Steenkamp told rugby365.com.
"I went back to basics," he said, adding: "I didn't concern myself with sideshows, such as Springbok selections, and, instead, I made sure I focused on the Super 14.
"I wanted to make a big contribution to the team and help ensure that we could have another successful campaign."
In many ways, last year was something of a déjà vu for the 2007 World Cup winner, but all those mini-setbacks have simply helped strengthen Steenkamp's resolve.
"In 2008 I (also) lost my place in the Bok team and at times you can worry too much about issues like that. However, at the end of the day if you play well enough the selectors will look at you," he said.
"As I said, I went back to the basics and made a contribution to the team, because it is such a huge honour to play for the Bulls.
"Now I appreciate what I have and enjoying every moment of it.
"You don't know what the future holds, you can suddenly have an injury and then you are out again. That is why it is important to make every moment count and use every opportunity."
The 22-Test front row forward has been very prominent in not just the Bulls' improved scrumming performances, but he has also improved his work in other areas of his game. However, for him, all this talk about a "higher" work-rate is just that - talk.
"However, just because I went out to enjoy and play and make an impact for the team, it appears I am doing more," he explained.
"It is important for me to make a contribution and spark the rest of the team.
"Obviously every player yearns for Bok selection, but that was not my primary focus. My goal was to help the Bulls have a successful 2010 campaign.
"At the end of the day it is up to each individual to take that step and make a contribution - that is what makes this Bulls team so good; every player takes care of his tasks and responsibility and makes sure he does it every week."
By Jan de Koning