Bulls No 8 Hanekom won't play in the URC final, Evan Roos called up to the Springbok squad

As the dew was settling on the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat of the Sharks, a disconsolate Cameron Hanekom was hugged by his teammates as he hobbled on crutches, his right leg heavily strapped.

It was poignant to see the Bulls players commiserating with the young No 8 who has to live with not participating in this week’s final against Leinster in Dublin.

The big question now is how long the URC Player of the Year finalist will be out of rugby with the Springbok season looming.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has moved swiftly to address the loose forward situation, calling up Stormers No 8 Evan Roos to cover for Hanekom for the match against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, and the two-Test series against Italy.

Bulls coach Jake White provided some clarity on Hanekom’s injury, which occurred in the 47th minute of the closely fought contest.

Hanekom was cleared out a ruck by Sharks captain Siya Kolisi. He clutched his hamstring in pain and was in discomfort as he left the field on a golf cart.

“Cameron is being given a probe. Obviously, he’s very upset, which is natural. He is quite down,” White said.

“I told his parents earlier in the change room that they must remember he is 21-years old with a long future ahead of him. People forget how times have changed in rugby,” White reflected. “When I started coaching (in the late 90s), 21-year-old forwards weren’t invited to Bulls training.

“If they were, it was generally for the old men to bash them on a Monday night at training.

“Cameron has obviously jumped the line because he is so talented, and he feels a bit down now, but we must not forget that he’s just 21. There’s still a lot of rugby that he’s going to be involved in over the next couple of years.”

White is hopeful that Hanekom’s injury isn’t as serious as it appears but confirmed that he won’t play in the final.

“When it is swollen and there’s blood on it, it is tough to see,” White said. “They had a look and he won’t play against Leinster, that I can tell you.

“He thinks he can. He said he might go to the same doctor (Bulls flyhalf) Johan Goosen went to,” White said with a smile.

“He can’t travel with such an injury. I’m hoping for his sake it’s like Goosen – a short-term rather than a long-term injury.”

Erasmus will also be concerned about Bok great Eben Etzebeth, who pulled out of the semi-final after taking a head knock in Sharks training last Monday. Etzebeth has had a long-running issue with concussion this season.

Sharks scrumhalf Grant Williams is another who could miss the start of the Springbok season. He could not play in the semi-final because of a neck vertebrae complaint.