TALKING TOUGH
EP wing confident of Elephant's ability against Bulls
An adventurous EP side will mix things up and play a free range brand of rugby when they attempt to topple the all-conquering Bulls next Sunday, says Elephants wing Josiah Twumboafo.
All eyes will be on an untested EP outfit at Loftus when they face SA’S champion side in the opening round of the Preparation Cup.
Twum-boafo, who played for the Southern Kings in the Guinness PRO14, is one of the experienced players in the young EP squad.
The powerful wing caught the eye when playing against some of Europe’s best teams and big things are expected of him in the Preparation Cup.
“I think I bring a lot to the party for the team,” Twumboafo said.
“A bit of deception and some people may not realise it but I am fairly quick. I also thrive on my defence and my work ethic as well.”
The hard-running wing said EP would not be intimidated by a Bulls team which has already won the Vodacom Unlocked Series and the Carling Currie Cup.
“I think it is a big task, but at the end of the day we want to be competing against the best in the country.
“We have seen the turnaround the Bulls have made in a short space of time. They got back to where they want to be and are winning trophies.
“So this is a great opportunity for the EP team. In any field of work you want to be competing with the best.
“We won’t be intimidated by this trip to Loftus because there is nothing to lose for us and there is a lot to gain.
“EP have quality players who are willing to express themselves,” Twum-boafo said.
“Our coach Peter de Villiers has united the team and I think the boys will go out there and show their skills against the Bulls.
“I think fans will see a free range of rugby.
“EP will mix it up with the way we manage the game and also the way we play.”
Twum-boafo has big plans for his future as a professional rugby player.
“I am hoping to go to a World Cup or even further my career overseas.
“Playing in PRO14 was a big step up and I was encouraged by Kings backline coach Vuyo Zangqa to be a student of the game and to keep working hard,” he said.
“Coming from varsity rugby to PRO14 was a big challenge and when we had to compete with the world’s best.
“Cold and wet conditions in Europe also played a role. We learnt a lot about rugby and ourselves and that is the main thing for me. I want to keep growing on and off the field.”
“I had some role models when I was growing up.
“I enjoyed watching international stars like Tana Umaga, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko and the Fijians and Islanders when I was growing up.”
Born in Butterworth to a Ghanaian father and a mother from Trinidad and Tobago, Twum-boafo finished school at Grey High in Port Elizabeth and represented provincial side the Eastern Province Kings at various age-group levels.
In 2019, he was contracted by the Southern Kings PRO14 franchise and he made his first-class debut in October 2019, coming on as a replacement in their match against Munster and making his first start the following week against Ulster.
“I grew up playing mini sports and then embarked on a journey at Graeme College. There I met some coaches and they introduced me to rugby.
“I started with the simple game of open gates.
“From there I started doing some ball skills and then I fell in love with the game at the age of nine.
“In my early years Graeme coach Pierre Jacobs played a big role in my development on and off the field.”