CELEBRATION: Scarra Ntubeni is hugged by Stormers teammate Nic Groom after scoring against the Bulls while, from left, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Dillyn Leyds join in the party. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/THINUS MARITZ

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HOOKER Scarra Ntubeni is enjoying the challenge of rival Bongi Mbonambi for the Stormers No2 jersey, because it might just allow him to fulfil his desire to play for the Boks.

Ntubeni, 25, was part of the Springbok set-up for three years under former coach Heyneke Meyer, but was never given a chance to play — not even for a single minute.

Recurring hamstring, groin and ankle injuries have plagued his progress, but on Saturday against the Bulls, Ntubeni showed his class.

Coming off the bench he, alongside replacement props Frans Malherbe and JC Janse van Rensburg, immediately dominated the Bulls’ scrum.

Ntubeni was also excellent in the loose and made a pinpoint throw to a lineout, where he scored from the back of a rolling maul himself as the Stormers won 33-9.

He was omitted from the World Cup squad last year as third choice hooker in favour of 34-year-old Schalk Brits. So, it is understandable he does not want to think too far ahead when it comes to donning the green-and-gold.

"I’m driven to play for the Boks, but I also don’t want to get ahead of myself either," Ntubeni said.

"I need to play well and stay on the field a lot longer this year. I’ve struggled with injuries in the past two years and played very little, so it’s almost like learning to ride a bicycle again.

"My injury problems started when I was playing 80 minutes week in and week out and my body broke down. So, having Bongi and other players there is good because I’m being managed well — even at training.

"We have depth at hooker and for my body, it’s a lot better, so I hope I can last a lot longer this season."

Stormers forwards’ coach Russell Winter was happy with the effort of his pack during the victory over the Bulls — especially the lineout and the effect of the bench in scrums in the latter stages. But he was not ready to heap too much praise on the players after only one round of the tournament.

"We got a lot things right," Winter said. "We understand that it’s early days in the competition, but there are lots of things we can sharpen up on. It’s by no means the end-product.

"We have spent a lot of time in the pre-season working on the basic principles of forward play. In the lineouts, it’s been as simple as getting the lifting right," he said.

"And when you throw in the personnel, we have in Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and JD Schickerling, who are all very explosive athletes, they will contest for the ball and make things tough. They want to contest as hard as they can for the ball. As a pack, we are trying to be more creative and that includes trying to involve the backs. Dillyn (Leyds) will tell you we are trying to involve him in the lineout.

"The intention is to make sure that our lineouts don’t all look the same by bringing an element of surprise. Hopefully, we get more right than wrong."

The Stormers meet the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend.