After two years in the fields of France, Curwin Bosch is back on South African soil and already has rave reviews.
The Springbok fly-half has joined Vodacom Bulls of Shave provide an additional experienced option at number 10 alongside Handre Pollard.
He made his debut for his new team against BKT URC Zebras Parma comes out Italy last weekend and earned warm praise from coach Johan Ackermann for the control he brought to the 47-13 bonus point victory.
He will now look to repeat the performance when the Bulls square off Munster Rugby at Limerick’s Thomond Park on Saturday night.
Bosch, who spent seven years with the Hollywoodbets Sharks, returned to his homeland with recharged batteries from his time in France.
“I started to feel too comfortable at Sharks. It was a safe space for me,” he says.
“I knew everything, I knew everyone, I knew the whole of Durban.
“Sometimes it’s 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 don’t know the language.
“French culture is very different from what we’re used to. They have a way of doing things and that’s how they do it.
“It was about adapting and getting used to those things and then finding ways within their culture and system to find yourself, put your feet up and find a way. At the end of the day, we’re still playing rugby.”
Reflecting further on his time with former European champions Brive, he said: “It was a mental breakdown, if I may say so.
“It was so good for me mentally, to spend some time in France, just to take the shackles off and get back to what I do best, which is just playing rugby.
“There were no side shows, no distractions. I could just focus on playing rugby.”
“I felt like I was much freer.
“The last couple of seasons I spent in South Africa, I felt I was boxed in a bit.
“At that time France just freed me up a little more. I was almost back to playing rugby at school. You see space and you play space. That’s when I’m at my best. I’ve come back a little bit in the last two years.”
Now he wants to continue in that spirit with the Bulls of Pretoria.
“I think it’s just a continuation of the process I started in France, playing with freedom,” the 29-year-old said.
“Getting older, I’m a little more experienced now.
“I know most of the teams we play in BKT URC. The quality of rugby is a bit better than what I faced in France.”
“I’m just looking forward to testing myself again against the best teams in the world.”
“With that experience, freedom and knowledge that I’ve gained, and playing with the team that we have here, I’m really excited.
“I just want to be the best version of myself on the rugby field. I know Curwin, who plays with such freedom, combined with the experience I’ve gained over the last few years, can only benefit the Bulls.”
Port Elizabeth-born Bosch won the last of his two appearances South Africa as early as 2018, but when asked if he still has international ambitions, he says: “100 percent. I still want to play for the Springboks.
“The day those ambitions disappear, I will stop playing rugby.
“I know that if I combine experience, knowledge and play with the freedom I want to play with, the confidence will be there.
“My best will be good enough to make the Springbok team.
“The competition that exists in my position is incredible. It’s really healthy and I’m looking forward to it. It’s just going to bring out the best in me. These are exciting times.”
The versatile Bosch can also play as a full-back, but says: “I will always prefer 10.
“That’s the position I’m most comfortable in, taking the ball in my hands and kind of running the show. That’s when I’m at my best.”
Praising Bosch’s performance against Zebre, which included four successful shots on goal, coach Ackermann said: “I was very pleased with his first BKT URC game for us.
“He controlled the game well. He shot perfectly from his hand and scored all his shots from the goal.
“It’s a good base to build on and hopefully it will get better as the season goes on.”
