The Vodacom Bulls have loaded their backline with a dash of danger as Curwin Bosch and Thaakir Abrahams return from overseas adventures to add X-factor to Saturday’s blockbuster against the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld.
If the Bulls are going to upset New Zealand, they will need more than muscle. They will need imagination, instinct and players capable of turning a sliver of space into a full-blown headache.
Bosch could be the chief architect.
The 29-year-old starts at flyhalf after two seasons with Brive in France, where he believes he rediscovered the freedom that made him one of South Africa’s most gifted attacking talents.
“It’s amazing to be back in South Africa,” Bosch said. “The two seasons I spent in France were really good for me, but there’s no place like home.”
The French stint, he says, provided a mental reset.
“It was so good for me mentally to spend a bit of time in France and get the shackles off and get back to doing what I do best, and that’s play rugby.”
Bosch believes that freedom has restored his instinctive game.
“I just felt a lot more free. The last couple of seasons I spent in South Africa, I felt boxed a little bit.”
“That time in France freed me up. It took me back to how you play rugby at school. You see the space and you play the space. That’s when I’m at my best.”
Now he gets a daunting examination against an All Blacks defence renowned for its speed off the line.
“It’s probably an opportunity of a lifetime to test yourself against the second-best team in the world,” Bosch said.
On the wing, Abrahams brings a different kind of electricity. The former Sharks and Munster flyer has the acceleration to turn broken-field rugby into a foot race, with enough attacking menace to keep defenders guessing.
His presence gives Bosch an inviting target when the Bulls shift the ball wide, while scrumhalf Embrose Papier provides the tempo to keep the All Blacks’ defensive line moving.
Captain Marcell Coetzee leads a squad featuring four capped Springboks, with Willie le Roux supplying a veteran pair of eyes at fullback. Hanro Liebenberg also returns after his stint with Leicester Tigers.
Springbok reinforcements Johan Grobbelaar and Elrigh Louw have been released to the Bulls after returning from Argentina. Both have had a single training session with the team and will start on the bench.
“It’s great to have them with us, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” coach Johan Ackermann said.
The Bulls’ challenge is immense. New Zealand have won three of their four meetings since 1949, with Northern Transvaal’s famous 29-27 victory in 1976 the solitary Bulls success.
Fifty years on, Loftus gets another shot at history.
Bosch supplies the vision. Abrahams brings the afterburners. The All Blacks will provide the test.
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni.
Bench: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Xavier Numia
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa
Date: Saturday, August 15
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT; 05.00 Sunday, August 16 NZST)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
