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Pretoria - Danie Rossouw's good form for the Bulls in this year's Vodacom Super Rugby tournament is no coincidence because he wants to finish his rugby career in South Africa on a high.
Not only are his sights set on a third World Cup campaign with the Springboks, but he'd also like to make it three in a row with the Bulls in Super Rugby.
"One would like to be remembered as someone who could play the "game", so I try hard," the 33-year-old loose forward told Sport24 on Monday after another short and intensive Bulls training session ahead of Friday's match against the Waratahs.
"Our focus is right because actually we are nowhere in the competition," said Rossouw.
"That is why we are working hard to make sure the momentum that we have built over the past month or so stays there and that we are still involved in the final week of the tournament."
Rossouw has had four different numbers on his back this year, but that does not concern the veteran of 113 Super Rugby games.
"I think what matters, is that I play. The time I have spent on the field has definitely helped me, even if I have played tighthead lock, loosehead lock, flank and been a replacement for the Bulls. Things are going well because I am playing," he said.
Rossouw produced an excellent performance at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to lay the foundation for the Bulls' victory over the Cheetahs and was named the Bulls' internal man of the match after the game.
He started the season with a try against the Cheetahs and scored another two on Saturday.
"I have to be at my best because this year it will be more difficult to make the World Cup squad than it was in 2003 and 2007. There are a number of guys who are playing very good rugby and the competition is tougher than ever before among the loose forwards," said Rossouw, who will play his rugby in Japan next year.
"The locks that are in the mix are also playing good rugby. Just look at Bakkies (Botha) and Victor (Matfield) and someone like Andries Bekker."
It is somewhat surprising that Rossouw, who played his first of 54 Tests in the 2003 World Cup and was the No 8 in the 2007 final, is uncertain of his place in the 30-man squad.
"I would love to make that team, even if I just play a few minutes," he admitted.
"It helps your career if you play off the bench a lot, but I believe I'm at my best when I play a lot."
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke backs up this statement.
"Danie is probably playing some of the best rugby of his career at the moment, but it's because he’s buying into the team's interest. You could pick him in any position and he will make a contribution to the team. That is what makes him such a special player because he will always put the team's interest first," said Ludeke.
The coach said that his troops will be fresh for the game against the Waratahs, even if they have been playing "knockout rugby" for five weeks now.
"We are playing one of the most skilful Australian sides and that makes the guys eager to give their best."
Pretoria - Danie Rossouw's good form for the Bulls in this year's Vodacom Super Rugby tournament is no coincidence because he wants to finish his rugby career in South Africa on a high.
Not only are his sights set on a third World Cup campaign with the Springboks, but he'd also like to make it three in a row with the Bulls in Super Rugby.
"One would like to be remembered as someone who could play the "game", so I try hard," the 33-year-old loose forward told Sport24 on Monday after another short and intensive Bulls training session ahead of Friday's match against the Waratahs.
"Our focus is right because actually we are nowhere in the competition," said Rossouw.
"That is why we are working hard to make sure the momentum that we have built over the past month or so stays there and that we are still involved in the final week of the tournament."
Rossouw has had four different numbers on his back this year, but that does not concern the veteran of 113 Super Rugby games.
"I think what matters, is that I play. The time I have spent on the field has definitely helped me, even if I have played tighthead lock, loosehead lock, flank and been a replacement for the Bulls. Things are going well because I am playing," he said.
Rossouw produced an excellent performance at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to lay the foundation for the Bulls' victory over the Cheetahs and was named the Bulls' internal man of the match after the game.
He started the season with a try against the Cheetahs and scored another two on Saturday.
"I have to be at my best because this year it will be more difficult to make the World Cup squad than it was in 2003 and 2007. There are a number of guys who are playing very good rugby and the competition is tougher than ever before among the loose forwards," said Rossouw, who will play his rugby in Japan next year.
"The locks that are in the mix are also playing good rugby. Just look at Bakkies (Botha) and Victor (Matfield) and someone like Andries Bekker."
It is somewhat surprising that Rossouw, who played his first of 54 Tests in the 2003 World Cup and was the No 8 in the 2007 final, is uncertain of his place in the 30-man squad.
"I would love to make that team, even if I just play a few minutes," he admitted.
"It helps your career if you play off the bench a lot, but I believe I'm at my best when I play a lot."
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke backs up this statement.
"Danie is probably playing some of the best rugby of his career at the moment, but it's because he’s buying into the team's interest. You could pick him in any position and he will make a contribution to the team. That is what makes him such a special player because he will always put the team's interest first," said Ludeke.
The coach said that his troops will be fresh for the game against the Waratahs, even if they have been playing "knockout rugby" for five weeks now.
"We are playing one of the most skilful Australian sides and that makes the guys eager to give their best."
