Jake still hoping to persuade the underrated pillar of his Bulls pack to stay at Loftus

Time is running out, but Bulls director of rugby Jake White admits that he still hopes to convince Walt Steenkamp to ditch his plan of continuing his career in Japan.

The towering second-rower has quietly established himself as one of South Africa's best exponents in the No 4 lock position, forming a superb combination with fellow workhorse and rising star Ruan Nortje.

Steenkamp's two-year deal with the Bulls, made in lockdown-riddled 2020, expires at the end of the month and it's understood that his destination hasn't been ratified yet, which explains why White is still trying out his considerable powers of persuasion.

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"Yeah, well I'm trying to talk him out of that opportunity," said the Bulls mentor.

"He's one of the most improved players we have in this group. You just see it in the way he runs around. People don't appreciate what a good athlete he really is."

While Steenkamp, who made his name initially with the Cheetahs in the PRO14, has been customarily robust as a defender and superb at set-piece time, he's also thoroughly improved his decision-making skillset too. 

"That kick-off (against Connacht), where he swopped places quickly with Cornal Hendricks (to quickly adapt the exit strategy) is just an indication of how far ahead he is with his game," said White.

One positive spinoff from Steenkamp at least being available until the Bulls conclude their three-match URC tour, which commences against Glasgow on Saturday night, is that it's allowed Jacques du Plessis, one of White's marquee signings, to steadily and fully recover from an operation on a long-term Achilles problem.

The long-haired cult figure, who started out at Loftus before becoming a stalwart at