Marco van Staden says he is growing more and more comfortable in his new role as hooker for the Vodacom Bulls – and by extension, the Springboks.
The 30-year-old flanker has increasingly featured at No 2, and credits preparation and constant training around the unique demands of the position for easing the transition from the back to the front row.
The Bulls’ Akker van der Merwe has been sidelined with a neck injury since January, opening the door for Van Staden to play hooker, where Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus used him extensively last season as a hybrid player.
“I’m enjoying the position a lot,” Van Staden said on Tuesday. “The training and preparation we do makes it easier to slot in and cover that role as best as I can.”
Van Staden highlighted the technical demands of the switch.
“There are a lot of things to think about – where to close, the break foot, the hook. It’s very different, but training with the props and getting advice makes it easier.”
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Despite the positional shift, he remains focused on mastering both roles.
“I keep the fundamentals of flank, but if I’m selected at hooker, I focus mainly on that during the week.”
Van Staden also underlined the importance of impact off the bench, especially in tight contests.
The Bulls beat the Dragons 47-7 in Swansea last week to keep their charge for a top-eight finish in the Vodacom URC alive. They led 12-7 at half-time before pulling away with five converted tries in the second half.
Van Staden was key to that Bulls’ surge. He replaced Johan Grobbelaar in the 53rd minute, and scored tries in the 57th and 74th minutes.
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Grobbelaar had himself scored a try just before half-time as the Bulls’ famed slow poison tactics started to take effect.
“We know we have a job coming off the bench,” Van Staden said. “We can’t just go on and carry on, we have to bring impact. It’s not just about lifting the tempo, it’s about getting go forward.
“If those fresh forwards can come on and get us just that extra bit of momentum on every carry, on the scrums, on the mauls, it makes a massive difference for the backline as well.
“So for us it is definitely how we can use our forwards the best we can.”
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Photo: Bulls/Facebook
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