Eli Snyman is happy with his Super Rugby ascendancy

ELI SNYMAN’S ascent to the starting line-up of the Bulls has been nothing short of meteoric after the Zimbabwe-born lock making a good first impression against the Lions last week.

It is perhaps no coincidence the towering former Junior Springbok’s name in Hebrew means ‘ascent’.

His impressive run-on start against the Lions softened the blow of the loss of Springbok lock Lood de Jager.

De Jager, who injured his shoulder against the Jaguares, has been ruled out for at least four months.

The Bulls’ lock stocks are already running low with Springbok lock RG Snyman only expected to make a return in three weeks’ time.

Snyman will effectively remain in the trenches over the next few weeks, surpassing his wildest dreams.

“A few injuries and a bit of luck went my way and that is how rugby works,” Snyman said.“I just want to make the most of it while I am here.”

The 23-year-old signed a two-year deal with Treviso at the end of the 2018 and will be leaving the Bulls at the end of the Super Rugby campaign.

At the time when Snyman made his choice, he had no idea he would be elevated into the Bulls team, never mind be calling the lineouts.

“I had to do what was the best for me, a bit of security, I didn’t want to hang around for a few months at a time and next you know you don’t have a contract.”

Snyman and Jason Jenkins formed a potent combination in the Bulls pack’s demolition of the Lions at Ellis Park. The forwards lay the foundation as they outmuscled their more mobile counterparts, grinding their way over the advantage line in their 30-12 victory.

Snyman said while the Sharks pack would provide a different challenge in Pretoria on Saturday, the Bulls would have to produce a similar effort to make it three out of three against South African teams.

“The Sharks get a lot of energy from their pack and it is going to be another huge battle for us up front,” Snyman said.

“I played in the second half in the pre-season game which was a draw and we can expect that again this weekend. It is going to be a grind.”

But one suspects Snyman is not the kind of player who will disappear when the going gets tough.

Asked whether he likes the grind, Snyman smiled and said: “Ja, I mean that is what it is about. I’ve learned now in my first season...it is ridiculous how tough the competition is.

“Sometimes you will win scrappy and sometimes you will win good but you just have to make sure grind it out.”