DURBAN - Lukhanyo Am, the Sharks centre who played such good rugby for the Sharks in last year’s Currie Cup and now in this year’s Super Rugby competition, has the honesty to admit he grew up a Bulls supporter.
For his sins, Sharks supporters will accept!
He is from King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape and confesses to being influenced by school mates as to the merits of the Bulls, and at school level he thought Bulls centre Wynand Olivier was the centre to aspire to.
“That changed to (former Springbok captain) Jean de Villiers,” the 23-year-old said.
“I thought he was a great leader and a sensational centre, and when I was growing through the ranks at Border I looked up to him.”
Last year, as a Border product, he played 10 matches for the Kings in Super Rugby.
“It is not an experience I choose to forget because I learned a great deal, and it has made me appreciate being a part of the Sharks set-up,” he said.
“The Kings were a big learning curve and coming to the Sharks later last
year for the Currie Cup,
I felt I was ready to take a
step-up after some tough times.”
Am was on the receiving end of the deft chip inside from replacement fullback Curwin Bosch in the last seconds of the game against the Brumbies that saw the centre gather and score the winning try.
“We knew we needed to score a try and we have an understanding that we will have a crack from anywhere to score points.
“And luckily I was the one on the end of Curwin’s kick,” Am said.
“But this week we are going to have to play much better if we are to beat a Waratahs team that will be bring their ‘A’ game to Kings Park after their beating (at Ellis Park) in Joburg last week against the Lions,” Am conceded.
“The Waratahs are going to be very determined and while we respect how they will come at us, we must also trust the style of
rugby we want to play,
which is to keep the ball in hand and attack the opposition.
“We want to reward the home crowd on Saturday night and hopefully it will be a big turn-out for what promises to be a really good game.”