Ludwig ready to 'battle' RG Snyman

03/20/2025 12:00 AM

Reinhardt Ludwig says he's looking forward to his lineout battle with RG Snyman when the Vodacom Bulls host Leinster on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has made seven starts in this season’s Vodacom URC, all at blindside flank, while coming off the bench as a No 5 lock against the Lions at Ellis Park. At a press conference on Tuesday, Ludwig said it looked like he would be starting in the Bulls' second row on Saturday and go head-to-head with Snyman.

"I really respect RG as a player,” he added. “We're from the same school [Affies in Pretoria] so it's quite an exciting match coming up. He's a much respected player having won two World Cups. I do respect him, but on the field, we'll have to battle it out."

While Ludwig has worn the No 7 jersey this season, lock remains his preferred position.

"I enjoy playing lock more at the moment, but that's because I've played more minutes in that saddle. I only started playing flank after school, so it's still new to me and I know there's still a lot to work on.

"I do think it's good to get exposed to as many positions as possible. I think you learn a lot playing a new position, seeing the game from a new perspective and then challenging yourself. But at this stage, I enjoy playing five lock more than seven because I'm more comfortable there."

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Ludwig admitted he was still getting used to his new job description.

"I think the biggest change is you're a lot more on the edge and in the wider channels on attack. You're basically a link between the backs and the forwards, so you're not in the heat of things the whole time. Sometimes you have to wait a few phases before the ball comes to you, which is frustrating. Sometimes you're looking for work, but to stay in the [team’s] system, you have to stay on the edge.

"But if you look at a guy like Pieter-Steph du Toit, and the game he plays at seven and the work he puts in, it's insane."

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Bulls coach Jake White has often compared Ludwig to the Springbok flank and two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, which Ludwig regards as a big honour.

"Pieter-Steph is one of my heroes and I really look up to him as a rugby player and a human being. He played lock for the Sharks in his younger days and I also remember a time when he played seven flank and the Boks didn't do do so well, and he got a lot of heat from the media.

"But I think the only way you get better in life, and in rugby, is you need an opportunity to grow and learn. You need game time. And it's not always going to be perfect; the biggest thing is that you learn and you grow.

"I was privileged to be at the [Springbok] alignment camp last week and I really learned a lot," Ludwig added. "To see how they manage the players and what they want from your position specifically, it was just great to learn from that environment."

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Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images

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