Van der Linde: Time on Bath sidelines was among best of my life

Bernard van der Linde has described his spell with Bath Rugby as among the best times of his life – despite being out injured for four months.

Bernard van der Linde made his long-awaited Bath Rugby competitive debut when he came off the bench during the Gallagher PREM win over Gloucester Rugby here at Kingsholm Stadium on Friday 23rd January | Photo © Richard Briggs

The scrum-half joined the Blue, Black & White from South Africa’s Vodacom Bulls during the summer but suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-season match at Worcester Warriors on Friday 19th September.

The 25-year-old was finally able to make his Bath competitive debut on Friday 23rd January, coming off the bench as Gloucester Rugby were defeated 30-26 at Kingsholm Stadium in Gallagher PREM Round 10.

And at the victors’ post-match press conference, van der Linde said: “You think being out for four months is one of the worst things that can happen to you.

“But it’s so weird, it felt like it was one of the best four months of my life, being here at Bath.

“I can’t actually put into words the way things at this club work.

“But starting with the coaches, the players, everyone making me feel welcome, even though you’re not part of it for four months, I still feel part of it. It’s not like that everywhere.

“So just having that year has been incredible. I can’t thank everyone enough.

“There’s just that little something special here that you can’t put into words.

“It’s hard to explain but there’s just that little something special that makes you feel part of it.

“It’s been incredible [playing in a Gloucester-Bath derby].

“Since the start of the week, everyone told me ‘This is going to be massive’.

“I’m not from here, I didn’t know it’s this big a game.

“Everyone said ‘Just keep your ears closed when you come in, everyone’s screaming, the fans are so loud’.

“So it was an awesome experience. I’ve enjoyed it so much.

“Hopefully I’m going to be part of some of the games in the PREM Cup [during February] – which would be nice, to get some game time – and I’m just trying to do the best that I can to make the team better.

“So whether that’s me running the ball, me kicking the ball, me passing the ball, whatever it is I can do to make the team better, that’s what I want to do.

“So I’m looking forward to the PREM Cup block.”

With regard to mentors in the Bath team, van der Linde said: “That’s incredible. Being behind by two [points] and guys coming off the bench – Guy Pepper, Thomas du Toit, Ben Obano – that just gives you confidence, knowing you’re going to have to make an impact, being backed by the coach [Johann van Graan] to put you on being behind by two.

“It’s been incredible having mentors like that, and Ben [Spencer]. I’ve been… not studying him but I’ve been looking at him I don’t think there’s a man that kicks like Ben does. It’s been awesome to learn from guys like him.

“There’s not much that Ben does wrong – so look at what he does, especially his kicking and just the way he talks to the boys.

“He’s giving the right words, and we have a few calls in the group. So if there’s a call, you know exactly what’s going on.

“Having a guy like him as a leader makes a massive difference on the field.”

Pretoria-born van der Linde admitted that young players being given their opportunities in the PREM is something of an eye-opener to a South African.

He said: “The PREM, you get into the system very early, where in South Africa you don’t get into the system very early. Like under-19, under-21, whatever.

“So when I came here, I was thinking of guys like Ollie [Lawrence] and Oj [Max Ojomoh], these massive names, and the first day, just talking to the boys, they’d be like the same age [as me], I was like ‘That’s crazy actually’.”

Van der Linde played down the little bit of needle between him and Gloucester captain Tomos Williams at Kingsholm.

When asked what Williams said to him on the pitch when the duo were getting a bit too close for comfort, van der Linde joked: “Welcome to the Premiership.”

He added: “After the final whistle everyone gets together and we have a beer together, whatever, but it’s been awesome making my debut against someone like him. He’s a guy I’ve been looking up to since I was very young.”