Rob Herring aims to stick it to old teammates when he scrums down for Ulster against the Stormers on Saturday, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Born and schooled in Cape Town, the 26-capped Ireland hooker is part of a powerful Ulster forward pack that also includes Springbok and ex-Stormers captain Duane Vermeulen.
The Irish side are second in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and looking to end a dismal run for overseas teams in South Africa in recent weeks. They lock horns with the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria next week, after their encounter with the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.
The Stormers are on a high after two huge wins in successive weeks in the URC – scoring 15 tries and conceding one – after Sunday’s bonus-point victory over Cardiff in sweltering conditions.
Ulster boss Dan McFarland, who says his players are battling in the heat at training, has now warned his charges of the danger in potentially facing an all-Bok front row of skipper Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni and Frans Malherbe.
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Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash, Herring said: “The Stormers have a big physical pack all round, so it’s something we have had to prepare for, and some of our strengths are well suited to match them.
“I played [WP] U21s with Steven Kitshoff and Scarra Ntubeni, but they’ve had a lot of changes in their squad. Duane has played with a lot of the players, and he has some inside knowledge.”
But, the 31-year-old is excited to be back home in Cape Town, although he says he’ll miss not having a chance to run out and play at Newlands in the URC.
“We’ve been enjoying going to a few beaches and training at my old school … it’s pretty class to go back and see a few of my old teachers,” the former SACS and Maties star said.
“I went to a lot of Stormers games, and watched from the scholars’ section behind the poles – [ex-Stormers captain] Corne Krige was hard as nails!
“It’s a pity we can’t play at Newlands but Cape Town Stadium is pretty great. Playing the Stormers in my hometown is not something I thought I would ever be able to do with Ulster,” he added.
“Some of my family have even come to watch us at training, so it’s going to be special to play in front of them on Saturday.”
