Speedy wing S’bu’s rapid learning curve
THE Sharks had big representation across the enlarged Springbok squad heading into the June internationals, but if one or two of those men had to be singled out for outstanding performances, you could not begrudge S’bu Nkosi who has grown quickly as a rugby player.
The all-action wing now also admits that after four weeks in the professional Springbok setup, he has grown in all facets of his game, but he is not lingering or looking back. Nkosi is wanting to take this growth and apply it for the Sharks in their push for playoff rugby.
Nkosi admits that at least for now, with all the Bok pressure off his shoulders, he allowed himself a quick moment of reflection, but is happy to shoulder the Sharks responsibility again.
“Now looking back, it is memorable,” Nkosi said of his work over June. “I didn’t have any chance to do much reflecting on any of the happenings at that stage because you just focus in on your next job and trying to perform at your highest standard. Sitting at home, thinking back now, it was quite a good time, but unfortunately I can’t reflect too much because we are back to Super Rugby now, we have to be even better for our franchises.”
Much more beneficial for Nkosi than reflecting on what he accomplished in his own career is taking the growth he managed to accumulate in such a short space of time with the Springboks.
The winger admits that all the growing he did with the Boks will be beneficial to the Sharks as he can transfer a lot of it right off the bat, from conditioning to skills.
“As a rugby player I have grown a lot,” Nkosi added. “I have gotten coaching from different coaches who coach different teams, grown skill-wise; they have worked a lot on us, our conditioning has grown, we did a lot of high-intensity training that will be beneficial going into Super Rugby. Obviously, also as a person I have grown, because I was around strong men and strong leaders who showed me how I need to conduct myself in the team environment.”
Nkosi’s finest game was probably his first one, in Johannesburg, where he managed a brace of tries. However, as a perfectionist, he is not seeing it as the polished performance many others are. Nkosi is wanting to bank his debut performance and look to what will come in the future in the green and gold.
“I am a bit hard on myself, so I do see things from my debut that I could have done better. I am not completely happy, but I am happy about it,” Nkosi said. “I don’t want to put too much emphasis on the debut because I want my 100th game to be even better than my debut!”
While the Sharks man looks quite at home in the green and gold, he knows that was only a taste of things to come, especially if he is already dreaming of emulating his teammate Tendai Mtawarira, who hit a century of games in June.
“A good taste of Springbok rugby,” Nkosi smiled. “The level of professionalism, the quality of the players, a good taste to have, and a taste I would like to have in my mouth a lot more often!”
But the month in the Bok camp, and the friendships built, will all be put on hold this weekend as Nkosi admits that fellow wing, Lions man Aphiwe Dyantyi, will have to wait until after the game to rekindle their friendship.
“I feel nothing!” Nkosi said about facing Dyantyi. “This is business, it is my franchise against yours, we put friendship aside and we will have a good laugh after the game again!”