Back to basics as Bosch seeks form
Sharks flyhalf says game against Bulls at Loftus will be preparation for domestic competition
Before the Covid-19 enforced lockdown ‚ Curwin Bosch was SA’s form flyhalf in the country’s best Super Rugby outfit.
That was more than six months ago and the rugby landscape could not be more different right now.
First ‚ the Bulls have a different coach from the last time the sides met on January 31. In that 23-15 success for the Sharks at King ’ s Park‚ the Bulls were coached by Pote Human.
He has gone‚ and so are a number of players. Manie Libbok is one of them and he moved down the N3 to join the Sharks as Jake White has swept with a new broom.
Bosch understands the rugby slate is now clean and teams will have to start from zero when the sides meet at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. “It ’ s going to be tough for all of us. It’s different times and it’s going to be a different experience ‚” Bosch said.
For me to get back to my form I’m going to have to go back to basics again. This weekend is going to be a perfect opportunity to sharpen up on those basics and things we’ve been working on in the past few weeks.”
The different look of the Bulls and the unknown quantity they are under with their new director of rugby means the Sharks have to brace themselves for a different challenge compared to the side they saw off in January.
They will still have to meet twice in the domestic competition ‚ which is what Bosch’s focus is on. “We see this game as preparation for the competition that ’ s coming‚ so we haven’t had that much of an in-depth look at the Bulls‚” Bosch said. “If you look atWhite’s signings‚ you can expect a physical game on Saturday. They’ve got a massive pack and some good backs.
“It ’ s going to be a challenge for us as we want to play a speed game ‚ so it’s going to be interesting to see how the two teams clash. I think the Bulls will want a number of set pieces to play from. They’ll try to slow us down and we’ll try to speed things up.”
At one stage‚ Bosch looked as if he was going to leave the Sharks as Robert du Preez junior had the monopoly of the No 10 jersey while his father‚ Robert du Preez ‚ had myriad reasons not to pick Bosch at 10.
Bosch has committed for another three years at the Sharks and it was not hard for him to do so. “It was an easy decision for me to stay here. We ’ ve become a special team in the last year we’ve been together and I’mlooking forward to what the future holds for us here‚” he said.
Willem Alberts is a week or so away from match fitness and was omitted from the Lions team to play the Stormers at Loftus on Saturday.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen ‚ who named his squad on Thursday‚ said he has a squad with no serious injuries but the
Bok flank was a week from being restored to full fitness.
The Lions team to play the Stormers is a much changed line-up from the one that last played in Super Rugby.
Nine of the players who started against the Blues in March no longer occupy a spot in the run-on team.
The team features a first start in Lions’ colours for Divan Rossouw at fullback‚ Sibahle Maxwane at right wing‚ and Burger Odendaal at inside centre; while there are returns for flank Jaco Kriel and tighthead prop Ruan Dreyer.
Another new recruit‚ EW Viljoen ‚ will start off the bench. Although Viljoen made a name for himself at centre‚ Van Rooyen is hoping to tap into his versatility.
“Rugby is moving towards the versatile players. He is big and he is physical. He can play 13‚ 14 or 15‚” Von Rooyen said.
In the air he will also bring a different dynamic for us. His anticipation is good‚ he kicks well behind opponents and he has a good passing game.”
The Lions struggled in the abandoned Super Rugby tournament but Lions captain Elton Jantjies believes the team is well prepared for the restart.
During lockdown how we would prepare in isolation was on our agenda. We trained in groups of five and we worked on our different programmes. It has become the new normal and certain adjustments needed to be made‚” said Jantjies.