Loose forward Cameron Hanekom participated in the third match of the greatest rugby rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks, which took place last Saturday at the FNB stadium in Soweto.
After two costly errors in the previous match in Cape Town, Hanekom knew he could not afford to be overly confident returning to the field for the Springboks in the third match against the All Blacks at the FNB stadium last weekend. He aimed to find the right balance, especially during the tense final twenty minutes when the team held on to a 29-24 lead in front of an audience of nearly 86,000 fans.
The player, who is from Ceres, made a significant contribution through his runs and tackles from the bench, helping the team secure a 2-1 advantage in this great confrontation, with another match scheduled in Baltimore, USA, this Saturday.
Hanekom noted that he made two silly mistakes in the previous match and knew he could not repeat them, especially at the critical moment of the last twenty minutes. He explained that he tried to maintain balance, not being too aggressive in attempts to score, and also tried to remain disciplined and follow the rules.
He emphasized that it was a very special event because it was the last match of the year in South Africa, and the team had to make an impression. Despite knowing it would be difficult, he was happy with the victory and that they were able to bring pride to South Africans by giving them a final win before traveling abroad.
This discipline was particularly important in a match played at such a high pace, as the All Blacks constantly put pressure on the Springboks, and the home team had to withstand a lot of pressure before securing the victory.
However, for Hanekom, the intensity of the game matched the event itself: the crowd at FNB Stadium gave him an experience he described as surreal. He stated that the atmosphere was incredible, and watching all the South African fans during the anthem was surreal, while the battle on the field was real.
The 24-year-old player also realizes that in the Springboks squad, full of quality forwards, there is little room for complacency. Instead of trying to impress, Hanekom understands that more opportunities will arise if he puts the team first. He will be one of the forwards competing for a spot in the squad in the final match of the great rivalry this weekend. He added that it will always be difficult because there are many strong players in the team, and there is healthy competition now, and he does not consider his place guaranteed.