Vodacom Bulls wing Rosko Specman says he is excited to challenge himself against the Jaguares’ Test-laden backline in Buenos Aires on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
When Specman traded the Blitzboks for the Bulls earlier this year, he couldn’t have dreamed of a more memorable Vodacom Super Rugby debut than the one he had against the Stormers in Pretoria last week.
What could have been a trial by fire for the new Bulls speedster against their bitter rivals turned into a perfect start to his career at Loftus as he scored two sublime first-half tries to leave the Stormers reeling at 21-3 at the break.
The Bulls, though, face a much sterner challenge against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires in round two. Specman, in particular, will be tested against the likes of Joaquin Tuculet, Bautista Delguy and Ramiro Moyano.
‘I look forward to it,’ he told SARugbymag.co.za. ‘It will be different, they obviously have more experience than I do, but I look forward to seeing how I measure up against such high-quality opponents. They like to keep ball in hand, and when they do kick it’s almost always contestable because they are so good in the air and back themselves to win possession back.’
Specman says because his role within the team has been defined as a ‘finisher’, he feels obligated to make try-scoring contributions in every game.
‘My job is to exploit the weaknesses in the defence and score tries. And I think I’ve set a high standard for myself following the Stormers game, I just hope to keep that same energy going this week and throughout the season.’
‘Our mindset in attack is to always get over the gainline and then take advantage of the space they give us, and if there isn’t space, my teammates have to try and create space for me.
‘We’ve put a lot of effort into our set plays and it worked perfectly against the Stormers. Hopefully, it pays off against the Jaguares too.’
Specman says his smooth transition from the sevens circuit to the rigours of Super Rugby has been made easier by the warm welcome of his teammates and especially the presence of fellow ex-Blitzbok Dylan Sage.
‘Blending in at the Bulls and in Pretoria wasn’t as difficult as I expected because everyone was welcoming and friendly when I first arrived. But it was definitely good to see Dylan’s familiar face when I first landed in Pretoria. He was the one who showed me the ropes regarding team protocols and the Bulls training set-up. I’ve adapted very well to life here.’
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
