Bulls unleash Bosch and Liebenberg against All Blacks

The Vodacom Bulls have named a formidable side to host the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (7pm), blending Springbok class with returning firepower and rising Currie Cup talent as they aim to claim a famous scalp.

Captain Marcell Coetzee leads a match-day squad featuring four capped Springboks, with Willie le Roux adding vast experience out wide. There is also a welcome return for loose forward Hanro Liebenberg, back on South African soil after a productive stint with Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership.

Much of the excitement, though, centres on flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who comes into the run-on side after two years plying his trade in France. Bosch has long been regarded as one of the most gifted attacking pivots to come through South African rugby and Bulls fans will be hoping his instinctive running game can unlock an All Blacks defence renowned for its line speed.

He will be flanked by two of the standout performers from the Vodacom URC campaign in scrumhalf Embrose Papier and loose forward Jeandre Rudolph, both of whom will be central to how the Bulls look to play with tempo and ambition against the touring side.

Bosch believes his two-year stint in France has helped him rediscover the freedom that made him one of South African rugby’s brightest young talents and now the new Bulls flyhalf is eager to test himself against the All Blacks.

Bosch says his time with Brive provided the mental reset he needed after spending the majority of his professional career with the Sharks.

“It’s amazing to be back in South Africa,” said Bosch.

“The two seasons I spent in France were really good for me, but there’s just no place like home. Even Pretoria, which is somewhere I’d never lived before, just feels different. It feels like home.”

The 29-year-old admitted the move overseas came at exactly the right time in his career.

“The biggest part of it was the mental break,” he said. “It was so good for me mentally to spend a bit of time in France and just get the shackles off and get back to doing what I do best, and that’s play rugby.

“There were no sideshows and no distractions. I could just focus on playing good rugby.”

Bosch feels the experience helped him reconnect with the instinctive style that first made him a star.

“I just felt a lot more free,” he said. “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 at the Bulls, Bosch is focused on combining that freedom with the experience he has gained.

“I’m older and more experienced now,” he said. “I’m looking forward to testing myself again against the best teams in the world.

“I just want to be the best version of myself on the rugby field. The freedom and the knowledge I’ve gained over the last two years can only be beneficial to the Vodacom Bulls.”

A possible first meeting with the All Blacks has added extra excitement.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Bosch said. “The last time the Vodacom Bulls played them was before I was born.

“It’s probably an opportunity of a lifetime to test yourself against the second-best team in the world.”

Despite being away from the Springbok conversation for some time, Bosch insists his international ambitions remain as strong as ever.

“100%,” he said. “The day those ambitions go away, I’ll stop playing rugby.

“It doesn’t really matter what you say. It’s what you produce on the field. Those actions will speak for everything else.”

For now, his focus is on the challenge immediately ahead.

“I’m a rugby player,” he said with a smile. “I’ll always prefer playing flyhalf. Getting the ball into my hands and running the show, that’s when I’m at my best.”

On Saturday, against the All Blacks, Bosch will get the perfect stage to prove it.

On the bench, coach Johan Ackermann has entrusted a spot to Hakeem Kunene, who has impressed since arriving at Loftus for the Currie Cup and will be desperate to make his mark on the biggest stage yet. Also among the replacements is Thaakir Abrahams, the electric former Sharks and Munster wing whose pace could prove a vital weapon.

Meanwhile, hooker Codie Taylor returns from injury to captain the All Blacks for the first time in his 110th All Blacks match and first match of the tour. Props Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax will also play their first match of the tour.

Six players from the All Black team who beat the Sharks 54-0 on Tuesday back up for the Bulls match: lock Josh Lord, loose forward Wallace Sititi, halfbacks Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima (who are both playing their third game of the tour), midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and outside back Emoni Narawa. A total of 14 players named in the 23 to take on the Bulls played in the opening match against the Stormers.

“The Bulls have consistently been South Africa’s best franchise side, making the United Rugby Championship finals in four of the last five years. Loftus Versfeld is one of the most formidable rugby grounds in the world, so we are aware of the challenge in front of us and excited at what lies ahead,” head coach Dave Rennie said.

“This is also our final hit out before the first Test match against the Springboks, so it is an important game for us. There is healthy competition for Test spots so another opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection.

“Huge congratulations to Codie on his first All Blacks captaincy. He is a top man and has done a great job leading this tour group. This is a proud moment for an All Blacks centurion who has made a massive contribution to this team as a player and a leader,” Rennie said.

Also, All Black midfielder, Billy Proctor, will return home to New Zealand today after fracturing his shoulder blade in the game against the Stormers.

The All Black selectors have decided to bring in Richie Mo'unga as a replacement in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry squad.

"We really feel for Billy. He has had a great season so this is frustrating for him. It is the harsh reality of our game. We wish him all the best with his recovery and hope to see him fit and well in time for the end of year tour selection," Rennie said.

"Richie is the obvious choice as a replacement. His job now is to get in and learn our systems, get his head around the detail and earn the right to play."

Mo'unga will arrive in Johannesburg on Friday.

History, however, is firmly on the All Blacks' side. In four previous meetings between the sides dating back to 1949, New Zealand have come out on top three times. The Bulls’ lone victory remains a famous one, with Northern Transvaal edging the tourists 29-27 in August 1976, a result that will mark its 50th anniversary almost to the day when the two sides meet again this weekend.

For the current Bulls group, Saturday represents a rare chance to write a new chapter in that history, and with the blend of Springbok know-how, returning quality and emerging talent named, they will fancy their chances of springing an upset at fortress Loftus.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stavino Jacobs; 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (capt); 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene.

All Black starting XV: 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, 1 Xavier Numia. Replacements: 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.