Ben Tapuai on playing alongside Lukhanyo Am: 'He gives me confidence'

Lukhanyo Am's latest midfield partner Ben Tapuai says he's gaining plenty of confidence from playing inside a "world-class" player of the Sharks captain's ilk.

The former Wallaby first centre made his debut against the Lions at Ellis Park two weekends ago and put in a solid shift a week later in the Sharks' draw with the Stormers last weekend.

It's hoped at the Shark Tank that Tapuai's arrival will plug the gaping hole Andre Esterhuizen left.

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But the former Queensland Reds, Western Force, Harlequins and Bath centre said playing alongside the recognised finest No 13 in world rugby would help grow his game and the synergy with his new teammates.

"When you've got world-class quality around you, all you have to focus on is just doing your job," says Tapuai.

"You don't have to worry about what others are doing. It's more of a trust thing as well.

"It's my first time playing with this backline, so I'm trying the get the groove of it all. As time goes on, we'll click.

"With Lukhanyo, I'm listening to him, and I trust his calls. He gives me the confidence to do what I can do because he's absolutely world-class.

"There are obviously things that are going to go wrong in the game but learning from him as a current Springbok player makes my game grow as well."

Tapuai is surrounded by a myriad Springboks, front and back, extending to the eminent No 11 in the world, Makazole Mapimpi, who has started 2022 as a man possessed with his four tries in two matches.

Of course, playing behind a pack comprising such as fearsome Springbok front row and the national men's captain, Siya Kolisi, too, doesn't hurt.

Tapuai says the team's growth ceiling is high because of the mix