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Nick Taylor,
The West Australian
November 7, 2013, 6:48 am
New signing Wilhelm Steenkamp will bring a typically rugged South African presence to the Western Force engine room.
And the big second-rower has learnt from two of the Springboks' best - Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Steenkamp, the club's second international marquee signing, has joined the Force on a three-year deal.
He has played more than 50 Super Rugby games for the Bulls, Cheetahs and Sharks, as well as almost 100 provincial matches.
The 110kg forward also played for the emerging Springboks in the 2009 draw with the British and Irish Lions.
Signing for the Force ends any further opportunity of playing for his home country.
"It was tough to make the decision not to play for the Boks but I just want to play Super Rugby and competitive rugby," Steenkamp said.
"That was one of the reasons I moved here, to play in a strong competition and get more exposure. It is something new, a new experience and you must make every day count.
"I moved to the Cheetahs (from the Bulls) in 2011 to play more rugby because I was sitting behind Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
"I captained the Bulls and the Cheetahs a couple of times and I think I can bring a lot of leadership, some calmness and experience.
"I learnt a lot from Victor and Bakkies, both as players and Victor as a coach at the Bulls.
"He is a role model for every young player in South Africa."
Steenkamp should bring the type of line-out experience the Force lost when Nathan Sharpe retired last year.
The older brother of Stormers second-rower De Kock, Steenkamp, 28, played three seasons with the Bulls after his 2008 debut and returned to Pretoria in 2012 after spells with the Cheetahs and Sharks.
He was ruled out of the first few weeks of the last Super season with a shoulder injury and had limited game time with another Springbok, Flip van der Merwe, ahead of him.
Force coach Michael Foley said Steenkamp would be a strong addition to his pack.
"Wilhelm is experienced at Super Rugby level and has forged a career in a culture that prides itself on the strength of its forward play," Foley said.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...rnt-from-best/
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