Tambwe feels Bulls can start a ‘new chapter’
LIKE all fast wings, Madosh Tambwe doesn’t lack for confidence – chest out, ripped biceps, legs that run like the wind.
But when the 24-year-old Bulls speedster was asked about a possible one-on-one duel with Leinster’s James Lowe – remember him from the Chiefs in New Zealand – in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship showdown in Dublin, Tambwe gave a sort of smile that suggested he knew it will be a serious test of his abilities.
The 29-year-old Lowe was a strong performer for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, but has reached even greater heights with Leinster, which has seen him become an Ireland international as well.
He scored 25 tries in 53 games for the Chiefs, but so far has a whopping 34 touchdowns in 52 Leinster appearances.
Depending on which way Bulls coach Jake White will go in terms of his backline selection when naming his team tomorrow,
Tambwe could slot in at right wing – if Cornal Hendricks is moved back to inside centre – with Lowe the Leinster No 11.
But having played Super Rugby for the Lions – he had a short stint at the Sharks last year before moving to Pretoria this year – Tambwe is confident that he can handle the situation.
“Knowing James and the time he played at the Chiefs, he’s a good outfit. I can’t not prepare well – you’ve got to be on your A game. He’s an international guy, so he knows what to do and how to prepare,” Tambwe said.
“The background of Super Rugby kind of like helps in terms of how to do your homework against guys who have played at international level before.”
Having dominated South African rugby over the last two seasons, the Bulls are in for a true test on Saturday. Leinster are the powerhouses of PRO Rugby – the previous incarnation of the United Rugby Championship – having claimed eight titles since 2002, including the last four seasons, and been runners-up six times. So, they are almost like the Crusaders in this competition, but that doesn’t mean the Bulls don’t have a chance of victory at the Aviva Stadium. The trauma of the Rainbow Cup final loss to Benetton in Treviso in June would also have made them more streetwise in handling the occasion in front of an expected 38 700-strong crowd, with 75% of the capacity 51 700 allowed, in line with Irish Covid-19 government guidelines.
“Not really daunting, but more exciting. I’ve been obviously blessed to play Super Rugby – I played against the likes of the Crusaders – so, more or less at the back of my mind, I realise what to expect from a quality side like Leinster,” Tambwe said.
“(But) you have to give credit to the guys in the blue (Bulls). Our squad is looking good.
“We’ve learnt a lot from our last outing in Italy, and now we’re in Ireland to start a new campaign – a new chapter in our book that we’re busy unfolding.
“We can’t make any excuses as to what happened against Benetton. But we have to look forward. Our squad has grown tremendously, and if you look at the last couple of weeks we’ve been together, our bond has grown from the last time we played Benetton.
“Yes, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due … They’ve won the PRO14 and dominated northern rugby for a long time. But at the end of the day, it comes down to the chopping block, and we both want results – it doesn’t matter who has won what.”