Scarra Ntubeni is keen to get the season under way, but first prize for the hooker will be an extended run in the Stormers team this year, given that he has endured three injury-plagued seasons with the Cape side.
Touted as a future star of South African rugby, the 23-year-old has sat out many games. Last season a foot injury kept him out of action for eight weeks.
“I took a look at my stats the other day and I see that I have fewer than 20 Super Rugby caps for the Stormers, and this is my fourth year with the team. It is either that I have not been looking after myself properly or I have just been unlucky with injuries,” Ntubeni said this week.
Despite a long list of injuries, Ntubeni is still regarded highly, which was evident from his call-up to the Springbok side for the last two end-of-year tours.
Ntubeni may not have had the chance to pull on the famous green-and-gold jersey yet, but with a World Cup later this year his dream of representing the country still burns fiercely.
“The only way to getting to the Springboks is by excelling, so I really want a proper solid season of Super Rugby with the Stormers.
“If you look at last year I think I only played five games in the competition and the year before I think it was something like four, so I really want to make sure this season I have a full season.
“I feel really good going into the new season, but I need to make sure that I look after myself.
“You do not want to push your body too hard, so while I will be training hard I need to make sure that I listen to my body as well.”
Another hooker in Tiaan Liebenberg retired at the end of last season’s Currie Cup, but this year the Stormers will have in the squad Bongi Mbonambi from the Bulls to provide competition for Ntubeni.
“I have either played with or against Bongi since 2007 or 2008... I know what kind of player he is. He is not the kind of guy that will be coming here to make mates.
“He will be pushing me for the position and I think that will push me to do more,” said Ntubeni.
In preparation for the coming season the Stormers have spent time with breakdown analyst Richie Gray, and Ntubeni believes that the former Scotland player has made an impact on the team’s overall approach to the game.
“The guys really enjoyed training under Richie because what he does is all match-related, it is not just training drills that the guys have to go through.”
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has called for a stronger overall performance from his side this season and Ntubeni believes that he can up his game to offer more to meet the requirements set by his coach.
“Ball-carrying is something I really want to improve on. Coach spoke about the need for big players to make a bigger impact with the ball and that is what I will want to do when I get the chance.”
Following pre-season matches against the South Western Districts Eagles, the Cheetahs and the Boland Cavaliers, the Stormers will begin the new Super Rugby season with a match on 14 February against the Bulls at Loftus before they return to Newlands to host the Auckland Blues the following week. - Cape Argus