Jaden Hendrikse in action for the Sharks against the Lions. Picture: Gallo Images
The Hendrikse brothers are two of the most exciting young talents in South African rugby, but it was clearly older brother Jaden who got the better of his sibling Jordan as he played a key role in the Sharks beating the Lions 37-10 in their United Rugby Championship match at Kings Park in Durban at the weekend.
Scrumhalf Jaden produced a sparkling all-round display, running attack slickly with pinpoint passing and excellent vision, while his X-factor was also apparent in some of the more outrageous things that the 22-year-old pulled off. He also kicked brilliantly, both in terms of box-kicks for territory and for attacking purposes.
Brother Jordan, two years younger, just lacked the same spark and Sharks coach Sean Everitt said his team winning the kicking-for-territory battle was crucial to their handsome victory.
“We knew if we could get into a kicking duel with the Lions then we could come out on top,” Everitt said after the win.
“Obviously conditions suited that sort of game as well. It was very difficult out there.
“Jaden played well last week as well and he is starting to reach the form he was in when he played for South Africa last year. He and Curwin Bosch managed the game very well.”
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The victory lifted the Sharks into sixth place on the URC log and, with just three games remaining, the playoffs beckon for the KwaZulu-Natal side. But those three matches are against top sides Leinster, Connacht and a particularly tough trip to Ulster in their last fixture.
Everitt was confident, however, that everything was coming together nicely for his team to finish strong.
“There are only three games left but there is a lot of rugby to be played. There are also a lot of overseas derbies coming up,” he said.
“We have shown glimpses of some really good stuff and we are getting our all-round game right – we’re not conceding many tries, we’re getting our kicking game right and when we get the opportunity to move the ball, we have shown intent.
“So yes, I think this has been the perfect build-up for the final run-in.”
