Stormers hooker Ramone Samuels is not having sleepless nights about throwing in against the most efficient lineout in the competition when his side meets the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.
The Bulls‚ with lock Lood de Jager and RG Snyman in the vanguard‚ have a 90% lineout success in 2018. Both players missed the previous meeting between the sides at Loftus‚ which the home side won 33-23.
“It’s a tough challenge this weekend because of the Bulls’ lineout success‚ but we are doing our homework‚” Samuels said.
“We have been studying their contesting plans they used against the Highlanders last week and against us previously.
“They have Lood de Jager and RG Snyman back‚ which will make it tougher‚ and if they pick Jason Jenkins at flank again‚ they will have three contesting pods coming at us.
“But we are happy with the way we are going. Since our last meeting at Loftus we have won 95% of our lineout ball so I just have to keep on doing what I do and [lock] Pieter-Steph du Toit together with [forwards coach] Russell Winter will come up with the plans.”
Samuels will also face in-form Bulls hooker Adriaan Strauss‚ who in the twilight of his career is playing some of the best rugby of his life.
There has been talk of Strauss making it back into the Springbok squad this year‚ even though he remains officially retired from Test rugby.
The Stormers hooker is inspired by Strauss‚ but not awed by him.
“We have talked about the way Adriaan Strauss has been playing because he has been excellent. Director of rugby Gert Smal said to me the other day; ‘what’s stopping you from performing like that?
“It was motivating for me to hear that. Adriaan is such a legend and someone I looked up to when I made my transition from looseforward to hooker.
“I see it as a great challenge to play against him this weekend and front up against him. He says he is refreshed and enjoying his rugby‚ but I can say the same thing.
“I’m fresh and been benefitting with a lot of game time. It’s been tough as a franchise but I’m really feeling good.
“Strauss is playing well and if he feels that he is playing well enough to challenge for the Springbok jersey that’s great. I hope that if I’m performing well too‚ the coaches will look at me as well.
“In the race for Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx is leading the way‚ but for those of us that didn’t go to the alignment camps‚ a lot can happen between now and June so we have to keep on playing well.
“I try to there to our team requirements while also trying to play my style of game and putting myself out there.”
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