Elliot Dee aims to underline his status as the most accurate hooker in Europe by sinking the Bismarck in France on Saturday.
The Newport Gwent Dragons front rower will have his sights fixed on South African battleship Bismarck du Plessis when he faces Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup semi-final.
Wales hopeful Dee, 22, is currently the most successful line-out thrower in Europe this season with an accuracy rating of 92 per cent. Of 60 throws he has launched in the competition, 55 have found their target.
But now he must aim to find his range against the intimidating Du Plessis, widely regarded as the most powerful hooker in the world.
Dee, who is bidding to make the Wales squad for the tour to New Zealand this summer, said: “It’s brilliant to play against him. Whenever you play against someone who has got a big reputation you want to test yourself. I suppose every player wants to be the best they can be.
“When you’re out on the field, it’s just man against man. You’ve just got to embrace it and get on with it, and try and have the upper hand on your opposite number.
“Obviously Bismarck du Plessis is a world-class player and has got nearly 80 caps for the Springboks. You don’t get that many caps for that nation by being a pushover.
“He’s obviously an immensely physical guy and has always been one of the top hookers in the world.
“I looked at him not so long ago when I was a bit younger, watching the stars of world rugby, and he has always been up there.”
The Dragons reached the last four of this tournament last season but were heavily beaten by Edinburgh in a callow performance at Murrayfield.
But after winning way at Gloucester in the quarter-finals, they appear more capable 12 months on, despite the resignation this week of director of rugby Lyn Jones.
Head coach Kingsley Jones – favourite to step up and take over at the region – will remain in control and Dee believes the team are ready to make their first final.
He added: “I can’t wait. It’s a massive game for us. We got to the semi-final last year and we want to go one further again.
“I think we play exciting stuff in Europe and it was a massive buzz after the Gloucester game, and that’s what you play rugby for. You can’t beat days like that.
“It’s brilliant to be involved in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup and a lot of people will be watching. The better standard of rugby you play, the better player you become.”
Montpellier v Newport Gwent Dragons
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Kick-off: 18:30, Altrad Stadium
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referee 1: JP Doyle (Eng)
Assistant Referee 2: Greg Garner (Eng)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (Eng)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (Ita)
TV: FR 4 / Sky Sports / beIN Sports
Notes
- Saturday’s semi-final will be the first meeting between the sides in European competition, however Montpellier did face Newport RFC in the Challenge Cup back in 1997/98, losing home and away.
- Montpellier will be appearing in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup for the first time; they lost both of their previous quarter-final matches before defeating Sale Sharks in the last eight this season.
- The Dragons will be making their third appearance at this stage of the competition; they have never reached the final, conceding 45+ points in both of their previous semi-finals.
- The Dragons have won five of their last six games against TOP 14 opposition in the Challenge Cup, including the last three in a row.
- This will be the fifth time Montpellier have faced Welsh opposition in the Challenge Cup, winning in Round 4 against Cardiff Blues but losing the three before that.
- Montpellier have scored 16 first-half tries this season, more than any other side in the competition. The Dragons have won eight turnovers per game on average this season, more than any other team in the competition
