World Cup-winning Springboks winger Sbu Nkosi was unveiled to the media as the latest acquisition by the franchise that holds all the silverware in South Africa, the Pretoria-based Bulls. Nkosi is touted as a replacement for the in-form Madosh Tambwe who is heading overseas at the end of the season.
Many were surprised when Nkosi decided to leave the only union he has played for in his professional career, the Sharks to join their arch-rivals the Bulls.
At his official unveiling, Nkosi started off by thanking the Sharks who had given him the opportunity to play professional rugby where he joined them as a 19-year-old and later being a capped Springbok.
When quizzed about the decision to leave what seemed like his rugby home, the World Cup winner referred to the fact that Jake White played a huge part in his decision to come up north.
Nkosi reminded everyone that it was White, the Director of Rugby at the Sharks at that time, who had signed him after he matriculated from Jeppe Boys High.
With the World Cup in France less that two calendar years away, Nkosi talked about the need to restart his career after a number of unfortunate injuries just as his game was starting to blossom.
With decision making being very high on his priority of things to improve, Nkosi is looking to get back onto the field of play where he can make a fresh bid for a place in the Springboks’ squad as he recovers after an ankle operation.
The Bulls have used players in different positions with winger Cornal Hendricks finding great success playing in the midfield. Sbu Nkosi is not worried about playing in a different position if asked to by the coaching staff.
As matter of national interest, a fit Sbu Nkosi is a great asset to this country and hopefully his reunion with Jake White will produce the desired results.
