Odendaal has point to prove after Boks snub
Burger Odendaal joined Wasps after accepting that his chances of winning a South Africa cap had gone, but the centre will not lack motivation as he feels he has something to prove.
The 29-year-old, who captained the Bulls and the Lions and played in the United Rugby Championship last season, is adding experience to a midfield that lost Jimmy Gopperth and Malakai Fekitoa in the summer.
“I felt I had reached a certain platform in South Africa,” said Odendaal, who marked his debut for Wasps with a try at Gloucester last weekend. “I thought I had a couple of decent seasons in Super Rugby that might earn a call into the Springboks‘ training squad, but I heard nothing.
“I felt it was not going to happen for me and I had to focus on my career because you only have a limited time as a player. This is a chance to expand my horizons and I have to prove myself to the rest of the guys and the coaches.
“I had interest from a few clubs, but joining Wasps was not a difficult decision. It is an amazing club and it was a great surprise to rock up for pre-season and see how they did things.”
The Premiership is a popular destination for South Africans some of whom, including the Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen, have forced their way into the national squad through their performances in England.
“A number of South Africans have made a big impact in the Premiership,” said Odendaal. “Having friends here makes the move easier. I had a taste of European conditions playing in the URC last season. When we played Leinster, it was snowing during the warmup.
“Most of our guys had not seen snow and it was a shock to us. There will be a big contrast in Europe this season because matches will be played in the European winter and our summer.
“It will be 30 degrees in South Africa in December and January, but I think South African teams playing in Europe suits them a lot more than Super Rugby. Travelling to New Zealand and Australia was tough because of the jet lag, but the time difference will not be a factor in the European competitions and the South African sides will be gunning for the Champions Cup.”
Odendaal has been getting to know his new team-mates and is impressed with young outside-half Charlie Atkinson.
“I saw him coming through last season,” he said. “He is an awesome player. I am getting to appreciate how he thinks on the field. It is about keeping him positive and the more we play together, the greater the understanding we will develop.
“From what I have seen so far, the Premiership will be like the URC in terms of speed and physicality. The biggest challenge for me will be the conditions.”
Wasps’ head coach Lee Blackett said Odendaal had different qualities to Gopperth. “Jimmy was vocal in everything he did. Burger leads through his actions. He came up with big moments at Gloucester and there are more to come.”
