Curwin Bosch: My best is good enough for Springboks

Curwin Bosch recently joined the Bulls from French club Brive to provide an additional experienced option at No 10 alongside Handre Pollard, and he made his URC debut for his new team against Zebre Parma this past weekend.

Having spent seven years with the Sharks, before a stint overseas where Bosch says he grew immeasurably as a person and player, the 29-year-old believes he is now well placed to once again make a play for Springbok selection.

As a youngster, the backline star was regarded as one of the brightest Test prospects in South African rugby, which saw him go on to earn two Test caps at the age of 20.

Although Bosch failed to kick on from there at Test level, he still has renewed international ambitions.

“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.”

Curwin Bosch believes he is a more well-rounded player now

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.”

Positional preference

The versatile Bosch can also play at fullback, but has said he 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.

“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.”