Tahs recruit aims to follow Vickerman path

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will welcome news that giant NSW Waratahs recruit Hendrik Roodt wants to follow in Dan Vickerman’s footsteps and play for the Wallabies.

Roodt, an Emerging Springbok who turned 22 earlier this month, has arrived to link with his new teammates in Sydney.

Like fellow South African Vickerman before him, 200cm tall, 128kg lock Roodt describes himself as “physical player”.

“I never saw a lot of him, but I know about Dan and I would love to walk in his footsteps here as well,” Roodt told reporters at Waratahs‘ training on Tuesday.

Deans will be thrilled if Roodt develops like Vickerman who excelled as a lineout jumper and enforcer for the Brumbies, Waratahs and Wallabies before deciding at the end of 2008 to study in England.

But Roodt is first to admit that a long way off.

First there’s the matter of returning to his playing weight of 121 kilos after taking a year off rugby to study.

Asked about his international aspirations, Roodt said: “It’s just playing for the Tahs for the moment but if I get the opportunity to play for the Aussies, I will be honoured.”

He said it would take a lot of hard work to achieve an Australian jersey and he would also need “to get into the Aussie culture.”

Roodt already comes from a winning culture, having spent time before this year with the Blue Bulls, who field the world’s most potent lock duo of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

“I’ve seen from the Waratahs they’ve also got a winning culture and some of the world’s best defence,” said Roodt.

Roodt said he could already feel a little bit of pressure on the Tahs from their failure to reach the 2009 finals, but felt the players “will deal with that.”

His imposing presence was welcomed by NSW coach Chris Hickey.

“He’s a big powerful man and I’m sure that with a bit of hard work throughout the season he will offer us plenty next year,” Hickey said of Roodt.

“We’ve spent nearly 12 months trying to identify a lock that we felt could come in a give us what we’re looking for.”

“We looked at a lot of players and we felt that Hendrik as a young player at 22 who has already played Emerging Springbok and the nature of his game, being a big powerful man will really contribute a lot to the depth of our lock position.”

Hickey said the whole idea of recruiting developing overseas players was that if they were good enough they will be eligible for Australia after three years.

“If that’s the pathway Hendrik goes gown, then that would be good for him, we’d be really pleased to assist in that area and it would probably be good for the Wallabies.”

Also linking up with the Waratahs this week was former Chefs winger-fullback Sosene Anesi, who played one Test for New Zealand in 2005.

© 2010 AAP