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Curwin Bosch: Genius with a Flaw

12 March 2020, by: Ludumo Nkabi

Curwin Bosch: Genius with a Flaw

It was a slightly overcast Saturday afternoon as the massive crowd of parents, supporters and scholars settled into their seat at the Phillip field at Grey in Port Elizabeth on the 23rd of May in 2015. The chilly autumn breeze blowing across the Grey High School campus, that had been the rugby nursery that gave South Africa their first black Springbok captain, did little to diminish the enthusiasm of all who were present ahead of the highly anticipated 1st XV clash.

Having just kicked off, Curwin Bosch fielded the return kick with hardly a minute on the clock and attempted an audacious drop goal from just inside his own half, it drifted to the left of the posts, but it had the distance comfortably. We, the Queen’s College old boys sitting together breathed a collective sigh of relieve, but I said to someone sitting next to me, “It might be a long day for us, Bosch is in the mood.”

Grey went on to beat Queen’s comfortably – final score being 46-13. Queen’s left everything on the field in that game, but Curwin Bosch by that time was far too good for schoolboy rugby and he was simply a class above every player on that field and his performance tipped the scales significantly for the Grey 1st XV that day. A genius by all accounts.

Five years on from those special schoolboy exploits, 22-year-old Bosch has been one of the catalysts in a great start to the Super Rugby campaign for the Sharks. The Durban franchise has won five out of six games in the competition thus far, losing only to the Hurricanes in Wellington. They currently occupy top spot on the overall standings.

Bosch has been excellent and it would not be completely deluded to say he has been the best flyhalf in Super Rugby this season. He is certainly the best in a South African context with Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse and the ageing Morne Steyn lagging behind the Alexandria-born player.

His game management has come on in leap and bounds, it is the deft touches that make others look better that have been particularly impressive this season. No longer relying mostly on his knack for game-breaking exploits to make a difference, those around him are benefitting from his accurate distribution and decision-making. He looks a more refined player in the team setup.

Bosch is kicking with conviction and directing the Sharks with his cannon boot. His all-round kicking game has elevated the Sharks, given them a new dimension. He brings a full bag of tricks in the kicking department – clever grubber kicks, contestable up-and-unders, cross kicks to rival Richie Mo’unga and place kick that boast boat accuracy and distance.

He is a match-winner for the Durban franchise and looks set to finally move from a player of massive potential to a proven performer in the big moments that players of Bosch’s talent ordinarily thrive in. He looks like a player enjoying the backing of his coach, unlike the time he was competing for a position in the team with then coach Robert du Preez senior’s son, Robert du Preez junior. Both father and son have moved on leaving Curwin Bosch as the incumbent at 10.

At the end of last year in an interview with Supersport, new Sharks head coach Sean Everitt confirmed that Curwin Bosch would focus solely on playing flyhalf this year with the aim of pushing for the Springboks flyhalf berth. His Springbok ambitions are warranted, but he must first address certain inadequacies in Super Rugby before his thoughts veer to the international season. Like all geniuses, he has a flaw.

Rugby is a bruising sport which takes its toll on the bodies of those who play it, a player must take every necessary precaution to protect themselves on the field and spare their body, however one cannot run from the fact that it is a contact sport and a player must bring maximal force when they thrust themselves into contact.

Curwin Bosch needs to develop an appetite for contact, his hesitation at the collision point is the only thing that stands between him and the Springbok no.10 jersey, but more importantly, at this point of the season, it could cost the Sharks in some of the closer games.

The Jaguares scored a last-minute consolation try at Kings Park on the weekend, with the touchline at his aid, Bosch could have done more to stop Sebastian Cancelliere from scoring in the corner and it is those small things that make or break the Sharks promising season. Had the Sharks not held a comfortable lead at that point, it could have been a tricky situation for them.

He is peerless on attack; he needs to bring the same application in the less glamourous facet of the game, defence. Raymond Rhule had similar struggles to those Bosch is dealing with now, the difference between the two was that Rhule was poor technically at the tackle point, but seldom lacking in effort.

Bosch seems to be equipped with the technique, he is far too gifted not to have the aptitude but lacks in application. The position he plays does not require him to be a world-class proponent on defence, very few flyhalves are. He does, however, need to do more on defence and exert himself more in collision whether on attack or defence.

On Saturday the Sharks outfit face off against the Stormers in the coastal derby, it will be one of the Sharks toughest tests thus far. Bosch in his rich vein of form could inspire the Sharks to victory at Kings Park, but his lingering weakness remains a cause for concern for a team looking in top shape.

Here’s hoping it does not blight what has been a coming of age season for the Springbok flyhalf.

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