No 8 Cameron Hanekom of the Vodacom Bulls is adamant: the ghosts of previous losses are not haunting their locker room as they gear up for the URC final against Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin this Friday. Despite their history of near-misses, including last year's crushing 32-7 defeat to the same rivals on the same turf — a game Hanekom missed due to injury — the Bulls are laser-focused on the present, not the past.
Hanekom, who had to watch from afar after tearing his hamstring in the semi-final victory over the Sharks, has bounced back stronger this season. The 24-year-old stalwart believes dwelling on the team's historical shortcomings serves no purpose. "Every season has been different for us in a lot of different ways," Hanekom explained. He emphasizes the importance of staying grounded in the now, stating,
"Focusing on what has happened and what could have happened is not going to get us into the position we need to be, especially mindset-wise."
Indeed, Hanekom and the Bulls have their eyes on the prize, determined to rewrite the narrative of underachievement that has plagued their recent history in the URC finals. The strategy? Stick to the playbook that has delivered success so far. "Looking back, what I would take out of it would be to try and play the same game," he noted, firmly pushing the squad to focus on their strengths rather than getting bogged down by the past.
"What’s happened in the past is not going to help us or anyone else; it’s about what we can do at this moment."
This mindset is crucial, not just for Hanekom but for the entire team, particularly as they face a Leinster team bracing for a 'mano a mano' battle. With several players departing at the season's end, there's an added layer of determination within the squad. "Everyone is focused on giving it their absolute best because there are a lot of players leaving us after this season," Hanekom revealed. "We owe it to them to give it our absolute best."As the Bulls prepare for another shot at glory, the blend of past lessons and present focus could be the formula that finally sees them lifting the URC trophy. The stage is set at Croke Park; now all that remains is to see if the Bulls can charge to victory, or if history will repeat itself yet again.