Curwin Bosch makes a statement in SA derby

Sharks fullback Curwin Bosch has been in the spotlight ever since he burst onto the scene for the Springbok under u20s in 2016. His rapid raise saw him feature in the latter stages of the Sharks 2016 Super Rugby season and played a vital role in their Currie Cup season later that year.

He missed just three games for the Sharks in 2017, missing matches to feature for the Springbok u20s. He would score 151 points with an 83% kicking ratio in his debut season in Super Rugby. He was included in the Springbok squad later that year and made his test debut off the bench against Argentina but the coaching staff deemed that the youngster was not yet ready to make the leap into test rugby just yet and he did not feature for the side again in 2017.

To date, Bosch has been used as both a flyhalf and a fullback but has struggled to break into the Sharks 10 jersey - his preferred position - since the arrival of Robert du Preez from the Stormers. 

Bosch did get his opportunity to shine under new Springbok Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus in 2018 when he was handed a starting debut for the test side against Wales in Washington but he lasted just half the game before he was pulled off for Warrick Gelant. 

A preseason injury denied the chance of starting at flyhalf against the Sunwolves, according to head coach Robert du Preez Snr, at the start of the season which also lead to him losing his spot to youngster Aphelele Fassi. 

Fast forward to April 2019 and Bosch is being linked to a move away from the Sharks having yet to register a single start for the Sharks after 7 rounds of Super Rugby action.

Following a narrow loss to the Bulls, Sharks coach Robert du Preez decided to hand Bosch his first start of the season handing him the 15 jersey for their clash with the Lions at Ellis Park.

Here was Bosch's chance to shine in 2019 and the 21-year-old jumped at the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands as he inspired the Sharks to a resounding 5-42 victory.

Curwin Bosch inspires the Cell C Sharks to a sparkling 42-5 triumph over the CEmirates Lions on a soggy Highveld evening, with the visitors outscoring Jozi's Pride by 7-1 tries.#VodacomSuperRugby #SuperPowered #TacklingCancer#LIOvSHA #SS1 @vodacomrugga pic.twitter.com/TlqFepNq0n

— Springboks (@Springboks) April 5, 2019

He started the match brightly and was the main attacking threat as the Sharks ripped through the Lions defence to score 25 first-half points.

Bosch set the first try up for Jacques Vermeulen with a lovely shimmy getting the side into the 22 before they exploited the numbers out wide. Moments later he sliced through the defence with another shimmy to send Makazole Mapimpi.

The fourth try of the game, Bosch brilliantly tipped on Esterhuizen's pass to Mapimpi who scored his second. He also slotted a long-range penalty. 

Bosch continued to perform in the second half picking up another try assist and maintained a 100% kicking record with two conversions.

He finished the game with 98 running metres beating 10 defenders and made two clean breaks. His performance will certainly send a strong message to Robert du Preez and a statement to Rassie Erasmus that he shouldn't be overlooked this year.