South African prop fits right in [Marlborough Express]
Being one of the big boys up front for the free-running Tasman Makos side in the National Provincial Championship rugby competition can be a double-edged sword.
You know that if you provide the speed machines out wide with good set piece ball, they will cut some merry capers. You also realise that the pace they play the game at will sap your energy for the real business at hand - scrummaging and breakdown work.
It's a situation prop Ross Geldenhuys is comfortable with. He backs his fitness levels and ability to perform his core roles as well as carry the ball when required.
The big South African, who played 19 Super Rugby matches for the Lions, came to this country to follow his dream of returning to Super Rugby. He enjoyed a bumper club season with Picton's Waitohi club and was selected at tighthead for the Tasman Makos in their first two outings. The quietly-spoken 31-year-old is relishing the opportunity.
"I've enjoyed [the Makos games] a lot. There is a lot of running rugby, compared to club rugby. Obviously, everyone is a lot bigger, faster and fitter but it has been good.
"I had heard that [the Makos] like running rugby and I feel that suits my game, because I also like to run a bit with the ball.
"It's been good and exciting. We train very hard and to get 10 points in two games is pretty awesome too."
Despite the backs running in eight of the side's 11 tries so far, being a prop, Geldenhuys' focus is never far from the set piece.
"It's always a battle up front," he said. "It doesn't matter who you come up against. If you come against an All Black you are going to have a big day and if you come up against a young fella trying to make his mark, that will also be a big battle. I had some tough [opponents] even in club rugby.
"And it's on at every scrum. We did quite well at the weekend but there were still one or two [scrums] that we looked back on and said ‘what happened there?'."
Although new to the Makos this season, Geldenhuys has quickly adapted to the environment and the team structures.
"Everyone has been willing to help. In the beginning, it's a lot of computer work and talks with the senior players to sort out what you need to do where, and all those sorts of things. But they've all been very helpful. Having everything on computer is a lot easier also because you can see, ‘ah, you're not meant to be there, you're meant to be over there'.
He has been impressed with the input from coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald."I'm in a good space at the moment just focussing on my own role really and what I can contribute to the team."
"They are very knowledgeable and come up with a whole lot of great ideas. Hopefully, it looks innovative for the spectators because we are looking to push the barriers the whole time."
Sunday's match with Bay of Plenty saw the Makos push some barriers to register a 56-27 win but the post-match feeling in the camp was muted.
"We didn't do things that we set out to do this past weekend," Geldenhuys said. "We didn't bring attitude for the first 10 minutes, for whatever reason, and we need to fix that."
On Sunday, Tasman venture north to Eden Park and their biggest test of the season so far. Provincial powerhouse Auckland lie in wait and the big prop is excited.
"I want to go there and have a good one - if I get selected. We take it week by week and we will want to win as badly as they do, so hopefully we will come out on top."
It is expected that Auckland may regain some of their players who have been in the All Black mix of late, not that Geldenhuys views that as a problem.
"Hopefully, that will be a disadvantage for them, call it that. That's what this competition is all about, you are going to play against All Blacks. It was the same in Currie Cup in South Africa, you are going to play against Springboks. It's always good to test yourself against the best so it will be pretty cool if they do come back. Hopefully, it works in our advantage."
A feature of the Makos environment in recent years has been a strong team culture, and he is grateful to be quickly integrated into it. He and his wife Madelein, plus 18 month old son Jetley, moved to Nelson after the club season and have quickly settled in over the hill.
"I've been accepted with Waitohi first, that was awesome. Then when I came over [to Nelson] to the Makos, that was great too, especially getting the Super Rugby players back . It's awesome just to be a part of something that - I can't say it's succeeding yet - but it's doing well."
Skipper Shane Christie suggested after Sunday's match that his side wouldn't be content with mediocre performances, even when victorious.
"That's why we play this game," Gelenhuys said. "We try to look for that perfect game. If you had offered us the score from Sunday's game beforehand we would have taken it. But after the game some of the guys were a bit gutted and we felt if we had just done some things a little better it would have been a totally different story."
So, would he settle for that scoreline against Auckland?
"I would settle for that scoreline against any team to be honest," he said with a hearty laugh.
- The Marlborough Express
