VIDEO: 'It will be a privilege to be the guy' after PSDT
VIDEO: Barely seven months after joining the Bulls to catch the eye of the Springbok selectors, Cobus Wiese has done exactly that.
The 27-year-old utility forward signed a two-year deal with the Bulls midway through 2024.
One of the reasons the Bulls’ Director of Rugby, Jake White, wanted to sign Wiese was because he is such a talented lock who can play at flank too, so he is versatile and that adds to their arsenal.
Wiese sat down with reporters in October last year and explained his yearning to play for the Springboks with his brother Jasper.
“I don’t know what they want, but I can see that it isn’t stuff that requires talent, it’s consistent hard work,” he explained.
“It is something I am chasing and hopefully one of these days they will approach me.
“It is a short-term goal for me to get into the Bok squad,” he openly acknowledged.
Since then he has had some struggles with a niggling ankle injury which saw him limp off the pitch a couple of times.
In the win in Cape Town in early February this year he left the field late in the first half and last week against the Lions he once again hobbled off, this time in the 65th minute.
Luckily for the Bulls – and the Springboks – it was more precautionary and not as serious.
Despite the ankle woes, Wiese has used every effort to show what he has to offer the Boks and it did not go unnoticed as he was one of 17 Bulls players invited to the alignment camp, set to take place in Cape Town from March 10-12.
On Tuesday Wiese spoke to reporters in a media briefing and was reminded by Rugby365 of the sentiments he shared late last year to wear the Green and Gold again.
“Coming from the Premiership into the URC, it’s a bit of a different game module. The weather makes a big difference and the Bulls are a side that plays exciting rugby, which requires more running.
“So I’ve worked hard on dropping a bit of weight, especially now that I’m playing seven and four. I think if you want to be a utility forward you have to be mobile enough to do that.
“It’s also about bettering yourself in the small stuff, like line-out detail, being quicker on your jumps, getting quicker off the floor after you’ve had a contact involvement.
“Again, stuff that doesn’t require talent, those small things that don’t seem to make a big difference but in the end, they do.”
“I’m privileged and grateful to be invited, but I also know that it’s only a foot in the door, so by no means am I in the team yet or there yet,” he said.
“For me, it’s about focusing on doing the basics well, playing consistently well, and working hard.
“We’ve kind of got this theme going at the Bulls that if we do things well that don’t require talent, then the talent will separate you from other guys. If I can do that, I’ll give myself the best chance to get in [to the Springbok team].”
The almost two-metre tall 116-kilogram powerhouse has added significantly to the physical presence of the Bulls this season. He plays in the Pieter-Steph [du Toit] mould of a versatile forward who can comfortably switch between lock and flanker.
But he is quick to point out that he is nowhere near being compared to the world’s best player yet.
“I had the privilege of playing with Pieter-Steph back in 2017 and 2018 [with Western Province and the Stormers]. He is world-class and I would definitely love to learn from him,” he said.
“I think one thing that I can work on is building an engine like him – I don’t think I’ll ever get there – that guy just doesn’t stop it, he just keeps on going, keeps on getting up. I think that’s a big mentality thing.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to fill his shoes one day, but it would be a privilege to be the guy after him.”
Cobus Wiese starts the party early for the Vodacom Bulls 😤🔵
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/POmEnsD9tI
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) February 8, 2025
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