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Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee is not too concerned about flyhalf Curwin Bosch’s defensive frailties.
The Sharks flyhalf was exposed on defence in last Saturday’s Currie Cup final against Western Province in Durban, with his coach Robert du Preez saying after their 33-21 loss that Bosch needed to improve his tackling.
"You’ve got to make your one-on-one tackles," Du Preez said.
“If you don't... they get momentum on that half-hearted defence. It's definitely very costly. We've worked really hard with Curwin on his one-on-one defence. It's definitely an area of his game that he's going to have to work hard on going forward, especially playing international rugby."
Bosch was nevertheless included in the Springbok squad for their year-end European tour.
Coetzee responded when asked if he was worried about Bosch’ defence at a press conference in Johannesburg this week:
"No, no, it is really not a concern for me," Coetzee said, as quoted by Rugby365.
"Every player will have shortcomings and a lot of players missed tackles in the (Currie Cup) final. I am not saying any player is bullet proof - there are work-ons (for Bosch) and we will make sure we work on (those) aspects of the game.”
Coetzee stressed that Bosch was a very talented young player.
"It is not that I want to come up for Curwin, but show me a flyhalf that takes the skin off the opposition.
"He is a young guy, 20, give him time and he will develop and get the confidence. As a young, talented, player when he kicks the ball there is something special about him.”
The Boks will play four Tests on their year-end tour - against Ireland (Dublin, November 11), France (Paris, November 18), Italy (Padova, November 25) and Wales (Cardiff, December 2).
