Skosan to go back to his roots
WHEN Courtnall Skosan runs onto Loftus Versfeld later this afternoon, his story is one of the Bulls letting a player go, only to see them flourish elsewhere.
Skosan is one of many Bulls junior products who found that the Loftus fields were overgrazed and needed to find new pastures.
Ellis Park was more welcoming and the success the team has had over the past two seasons has seen the Lions have seven players in the starting lineup.
The wheel’s turned as such with the Bulls only having two starters in Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein. Skosan is not bitter about how things didn’t work out for him in the capital city.
“Loftus was my home for four years so it’s special to make my debut here.
“I learnt most of my rugby here and it was a good time for me when I was here. It’s just special for me to make my debut regardless of where I make it. It could be at Newlands or anywhere.
“To be part of the Springboks is special because there have only been 881 guys before this,” Skosan said.
“I’ve learnt a lot in my career and there are a lot of people who’ve put in a lot of work with my overall game. I’ll always strive to improve in whatever I do. It was just fortunate that God opened the door for me to go to the Lions.”
Size has always been an issue for Skosan but he’s long grown from the winger who was unceremoniously run over by then Blues winger Frank Halai.
South Africa has all but given up on the hulking wingers New Zealand and Australia possess and that may not be a bad thing.
Countries have to use their available resources and it’s a good thing South African rugby has not toyed with the thought of converting flanks into wings.
At times there are drawbacks of having small wingers like Skosan but he seems to be primed for the big occasion.
Yoann Huget and Virimi Vakatawa are not in the same size class of Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo but they could prove to be a stern defensive test. Skosan said he was not fazed by his lack of size.
“It’s never a one-on-one battle on the field. It’s 23 against 23 and if our 23 does better, then we’ll get the result. We’re not focused on one man, we’re focused on the 23,” Skosan said.