Emile van Heerden is seizing the moment in the Sharks' lineup, stepping up his game in the absence of the seasoned Eben Etzebeth, who has been sidelined since November due to suspension. The young lock is not just filling shoes; he's crafting his own legacy in the rough and tumble of rugby's elite echelons.
"Pressure might not be the right word. I think it’s a responsibility," Van Heerden articulated, as he prepared for the upcoming Vodacom URC clash against Cardiff at Kings Park. As a crucial No 5 lock and the lineout caller, he understands the weight of his role. "It’s also an opportunity to show what we have here. It makes my job much easier playing with the quality players we have at the Sharks."
The lineout proved pivotal in the Sharks' recent 45-0 demolition of Munster. Van Heerden credits the collective effort for this success. "Credit to our coaches and the other players like Jason Jenkins, Vincent Koch. We put in a lot of work and try to prepare as well as we can. Having guys like Marvin Orie and Eben here, who have tons of experience, really helps," he added.
"They sit in meetings and give advice. Coach Warren Whiteley has also been really good with prep."
Off the pitch, Van Heerden draws immense support from his father, former Springbok forward Fritz van Heerden. "He’s played an instrumental role in my career, not only as a coach but as a father," he shared. "He gives me an objective opinion. Sometimes those are tough conversations, but they come from a place of love. I don’t see it as a burden. There’s no pressure on me. He’s just supported me and helped me develop my game."
With Cardiff reeling from a 40-7 thrashing at the hands of the Vodacom Bulls, Van Heerden anticipates a fierce comeback. "Cardiff are a quality team and you can see that from where they are on the log [fifth]. They had a tough game last weekend, but we expect them to lift when they come to the Tank."
The lock also took a moment to reflect on teammate Makazole Mapimpi's 100th Sharks appearance, a milestone adorned with two decisive tries against Munster. "He means a lot to South African rugby, not just the Sharks," Van Heerden observed. "Reaching 100 games is something to celebrate. It was special to see him score two tries and make it a memorable occasion. We want to make it special for players on those occasions – whether it’s a 100th game, 50th, or a debut. We didn’t do that against the Bulls two weeks ago, but this meant a lot."
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Emile van Heerden is seizing the moment in the Sharks' lineup, stepping up his game in the absence of the seasoned Eben Etzebeth, who has been sidelined since November due to suspension. The young lock is not just filling shoes; he's crafting his own legacy in the rough and tumble of rugby's elite echelons.
"Pressure might not be the right word. I think it’s a responsibility," Van Heerden articulated, as he prepared for the upcoming Vodacom URC clash against Cardiff at Kings Park. As a crucial No 5 lock and the lineout caller, he understands the weight of his role. "It’s also an opportunity to show what we have here. It makes my job much easier playing with the quality players we have at the Sharks."
The lineout proved pivotal in the Sharks' recent 45-0 demolition of Munster. Van Heerden credits the collective effort for this success. "Credit to our coaches and the other players like Jason Jenkins, Vincent Koch. We put in a lot of work and try to prepare as well as we can. Having guys like Marvin Orie and Eben here, who have tons of experience, really helps," he added.
"They sit in meetings and give advice. Coach Warren Whiteley has also been really good with prep."
Off the pitch, Van Heerden draws immense support from his father, former Springbok forward Fritz van Heerden. "He’s played an instrumental role in my career, not only as a coach but as a father," he shared. "He gives me an objective opinion. Sometimes those are tough conversations, but they come from a place of love. I don’t see it as a burden. There’s no pressure on me. He’s just supported me and helped me develop my game."
With Cardiff reeling from a 40-7 thrashing at the hands of the Vodacom Bulls, Van Heerden anticipates a fierce comeback. "Cardiff are a quality team and you can see that from where they are on the log [fifth]. They had a tough game last weekend, but we expect them to lift when they come to the Tank."
The lock also took a moment to reflect on teammate Makazole Mapimpi's 100th Sharks appearance, a milestone adorned with two decisive tries against Munster. "He means a lot to South African rugby, not just the Sharks," Van Heerden observed. "Reaching 100 games is something to celebrate. It was special to see him score two tries and make it a memorable occasion. We want to make it special for players on those occasions – whether it’s a 100th game, 50th, or a debut. We didn’t do that against the Bulls two weeks ago, but this meant a lot."