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Cape Town - Speedster Rosko Specman says it was a challenge for him to adapt to the Bulls' playing style in this year's Super Rugby tournament.
The 29-year-old former Sevens star made his debut in the competition in 2019.
He made an immediate mark when he scored a brace of tries in the Bulls' 40-3 win over the Stormers in their opening match.
But Specman found the going tough as the season progressed and told Sport24 that, unlike in Sevens, he was not accustomed to playing for large periods without the ball.
"The most frustrating aspect for me was role of the wings at the Bulls. There weren't a lot of times where the ball was spread wide to the wings, so every time when Cornal (Hendricks) and I got the ball, we would try to do something special because we never knew when we would get it again!
"The whole game plan around the wings was to kick-chase and put the opposition under pressure. It was frustrating for me because you never know when you are going to be in a move, whereas in Sevens I was the guy making the moves and decisions."
Specman said he was nevertheless happy to be afforded the opportunity to play Super Rugby.
"I was happy with my debut against the Stormers at Loftus and the fact that I scored two tries. But, as the season progressed, opponents identified me as one of the more dangerous players on the field and tried to keep the ball away from me or close my space... I finished with five tries for the season and, when I wasn’t dotting down I was keeping the opponents busy and Cornal was scoring tries."
Specman will now shift his focus to the Currie Cup where he will start at left wing for the Blue Bulls when they tackle Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
"I think we have a good squad who can win the Currie Cup and if we take the competition, which only comprises a single round, game by game I believe we can be successful. There is something about playing against Western Province that always brings the best out of me and I am up for the challenge at Newlands on Saturday. It’s always nice to play against your friends - I have a few in the Province team - but on the day you put friendships aside when you cross the line."
Kick-off is at 17:15 on Saturday.
READ: Rosko Specman's full Q&A interview with Sport24
Teams:
Western Province
15 SP Marais, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie
Substitutes: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Josh Stander, 23 Craig Barry
Blue Bulls
15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima
Substitutes: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Matthys Basson, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Dylan Sage
