Sharks coach Sean Everitt has supported flyhalf Curwin Bosch following his goal-kicking display against the Vodacom Bulls in the Currie Cup final on Saturday.
The Vodacom Bulls, who had hosted the Sharks at Loftus, scored a converted try late in stoppage time to claim a stunning 26-19 come-from-behind win to secure their first Currie Cup title since 2009.
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However, the Bulls’ stirring comeback effort was aided by Bosch’s misfiring boot. It would have been a different result had Bosch been more accurate off the kicking tee.
Instead, the flyhalf missed several kicks at goal (five penalties and two drop goal attempts in total), but speaking during a virtual post-game media conference, Everitt refused to apportion any blame for their loss to Bosch’s uncharacteristic goal-kicking return in what was arguably their biggest game of the season.
‘I’m not disappointed that he didn’t kick everything over,’ Everitt said. ‘He has done it time and time again for us this year. Maybe today wasn’t up to the standard that we’re used to from Curwin, but the guy has been amazing us.’
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While Bosch had missed more than the two Bulls kickers [Morne Steyn and Chris Smith] combined, Everitt added it was telling that the kickers on both sides had struggled to hit target.
‘Like I said during the week, he has pulled us out of the trenches before, but unfortunately today it didn’t go his way. Morne [Steyn] missed kicks and Chris Smith missed one to win the game after 80 minutes, so we can look at all the kickers [in this game] in that perspective if you like,’ he explained.
‘Curwin is a great rugby player. When you miss kicks at goal, that doesn’t make you a bad rugby player. Curwin has been outstanding for us and I thought generally today his game management was really good. We back him 100%.’
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Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
