Glasgow v Bulls: A huge game for Hanekom, Jooste

Junior Springbok Cheswill Jooste and last year’s URC Next-Gen Player of the Season Cameron Hanekom return to the Bulls starting XV in their crucial Champions Cup knockout against Glasgow Warriors. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images The stakes could barely be higher for Bulls star Cameron Hanekom’s return to the starting XV, as his side take on old rivals Glasgow Warriors in a Champions Cup knockout match. The teams clash at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm), where the Bulls were the last side to beat Glasgow at home in April last year.

Since then, Glasgow have won 11 consecutive home matches, leading the United Rugby Championship table and remaining unbeaten in the Champions Cup. Last year’s URC Next-Gen Player of the Season has looked good off the bench against Cardiff and Munster, but his long time out of the game should not be overlooked. Hanekom spent nine months battling ahamstring injury, once or twice setting his rehab back due to his eagerness to train.

The eighthman played against Glasgow in their 2023/24 URC final at Loftus, where the Bulls lost 21-16. They were favourites after beating the Scottish side 40-34 at the same venue a month earlier, where Hanekom scored a try. But the one-Test Springbok missed the Bulls’ last clash with Glasgow, in October.

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There, the Bulls led, and looked good, until acontroversial referee’s decisionswung momentum to the hosts, and Glasgow won 21-12. Coach Johan Ackermann expressed the frustration the team felt at that result, but in the build-up to their return to Scotstoun, said he did not believe in revenge matches. “But saying that, when you have had a good victory at a place it does stick in your mind,” he said.

“The players who were there will take confidence that it can be done.” Ackermann said he felt confident Hanekom would be ready. If not, there was cover on the bench in loose forwards Marco van Staden and Jeandré Rudolph.

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