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'I was starting to become too comfortable at the Sharks. It was a safe space for me'
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After two years in French fields, Curwin Bosch is back on South African soil and already receiving rave reviews.
The Springbok fly-half has joined the Vodacom Bulls from Brive to provide an additional experienced option at No 10 alongside Handre Pollard.
He made his BKT URC debut for his new team against Zebre Parma out in Italy last weekend and earned warm praise from coach Johan Ackermann for the control he brought in a 47-13 bonus point victory.
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Now he will be looking to produce a repeat performance when the Bulls take on Munster Rugby at Limerick’s Thomond Park on Saturday evening.
Bosch, who spent seven years with the Hollywoodbets Sharks, has returned to his homeland with his batteries recharged from his time in France.
“I was starting to become too comfortable at the Sharks. It was a safe space for me,” he says.
“I knew everything, I knew everyone, I knew the whole of Durban.
“Sometimes it is hard to leave that comfort, but it was exactly what I needed, just to get out of my comfort zone and go to a country where I can’t speak the language.
“The French culture is very different from what we are used to. They’ve got a way of doing things and they do it that way.
“It was about adapting and getting used to those things and then you find ways within their culture and system to find yourself, set your feet and find a way. At the end of the day, we are still playing rugby.”
Reflecting further on his time with former European champions Brive, he said: “It was a mental break, if I can put it like that.
“It was just so good for me mentally, to spend a bit of time in France, just to get the shackles off and get back to doing what I do best and that’s just to play rugby.
“There were no side shows going on, no distractions. I could just focus on playing rugby.
“I just felt like I was a lot more free.
“The last couple of seasons I spent in South Africa, I felt I was boxed a little bit.
“That time in France just freed me up a little bit more. I was going back to almost how I used to play rugby at school. You see the space and you play the space. That’s when I’m at my best. I’ve got a little bit of that back over the last two years.”
Now he is looking to carry on in that vein with the Bulls of Pretoria.
“I think it’s just a continuation of that process I started in France, of playing with freedom,” said the 29-year-old.
“Getting older, I am a little bit more experienced now.
“Most of the teams we play in the BKT URC, I know. The quality of rugby is a little bit better than what I faced in France.
“I’m just really looking forward to testing myself once again against the best teams in the world.
“With that experience, with the freedom and knowledge I have gained, and playing with the team we have here, I am really excited.
“I just want to be the best version of myself on the rugby pitch. I know that Curwin, who plays with that sort of freedom, combined with the experience I have gained over the last couple of years, can only be beneficial to the Bulls.”
The Port Elizabeth-born Bosch won the last of his two caps for South Africa back in 2018, but when asked whether he still has international ambitions, he replies: “100 per cent. I still want to play for the Springboks.
“The day those ambitions go away, I will stop playing rugby.
“I know if I combine the experience, the knowledge and play with that freedom that I want to play with, the confidence will be there.
“My best will be good enough to make the Springbok team.
“The competition that’s there in my position is unbelievable. It’s really healthy and I’m looking forward to it. It’s just going to bring out the best in me. It’s exciting times.”
The versatile Bosch can also play at full-back, but says: “I will always prefer 10.
“That’s the position I am most comfortable in, getting the ball in my hands and sort of running the show. That’s when I’m at my best.”
Hailing Bosch’s performance against Zebre, which included four successful shots at goal, coach Ackermann said: “I was very pleased with his first BKT URC game for us.
“He controlled the game well. He kicked very well out of hand and slotted all his goal kicks.
“It’s a good base to build from and hopefully it will just go better as the season progresses.”
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