Curwin Bosch was a youth star, having played two years of SA Schools rugby. Now the ex-Grey PE playmaker is ready to hit the global scene at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Manchester this month.
Bosch, who matriculated at the end of last year, was snapped up by the Sharks immediately out of school and is equally adept at flyhalf and fullback.
He will turn 19 only on June 25, but Bosch will be one of the key figures in Dawie Theron’s Junior Springbok side in Manchester, where the youngsters will open their campaign against Japan on Tuesday, June 7 (4.15pm SA time).
Their Pool C fixtures will conclude against Argentina on June 11 (7pm) and France on June 15 (8.45pm).
Bosch has played at No 10 for Grey, Eastern Province and SA Schools over the last two years, but in 2016, he has operated mainly at fullback for the SA Under-20s in the warm-up games in partnership with another classy attacker in Manie Libbok from the Bulls.
Libbok hails from Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape and played Craven Week rugby for SWD while matriculating from Hoerskool Outeniqua in George.
“I think it went very well. It also gave me an idea of where I sort of feel more comfortable, but looking at the coaches’ plans, I think I’m going to play 15 most of the time. I enjoy the space at the back, and it gives me a lot of freedom as well. I can play more of my type of game from there,” Bosch told Independent Media ahead of the Junior Boks’ departure for England on Thursday.
“Ja, definitely, that’s how we’ve practised it (moving between flyhalf and fullback with Libbok). We also speak a lot to each other and we’ve got a very close bond. So that makes it very easy for us. Like I said to him, if he’s not there, I’ll pop in every now and then at first receiver and even if we want to change direction, I will be on the one side and he’ll be on the other.
“We’ve got a very good understanding of the game – we’ve got very similar games – so it will benefit the team if both of us can be at first receiver at the same time.”
Bosch, who will also take charge of the goal-kicking in Manchester – “I kicked nine out of nine in my last game, so it’s very good at the moment” – is also hoping for good conditions to unleash a potentially dangerous backline that includes captain Jeremy Ward at centre, wing S’busiso Nkosi and Southern Kings Super Rugby scrumhalf James Hall.
“Hopefully we can have some dry weather, and it would perfectly suit our type of play, especially for our backs. We’ve got some light-footed guys there who are very agile, so if the weather can be dry, I’m sure we’ll do some damage,” Bosch said.
“It’s a very big step in my career, especially coming off school last year. I must say that the intensity of the game has gone up a notch or two, but that is what you play the game for – you want to have that pressure on you and test yourself against the best.”
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