- Bulls manager Jake White was delighted with Johan Goosen’s performance in Saturday’s URC win over Cardiff.
- The Springbok playmaker was at his best with a statement display.
- Goosen has battled injury but remains a part of the national team’s plans.
Manager Jake White had many positives from the Bulls’ emphatic 45-9 win over Cardiff at Loftus on Saturday, but one of the most pleasing was the performance of fly half Johan Goosen.
A player who has endured a nightmare streak of injuries now returns as the Bulls’ No. 10 jumper, and he showed Saturday why he has had so much anticipation for so long.
Even while injured, Goosen has remained on the radar of Springbok bosses Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber, and this performance made quite a statement.
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Goosen scored a try and kicked 11 points on the night, but his handling of the game was even more impressive, as he distributed with precision, placing himself and the players around him in empty space, and was largely flawless kicking out. of control.
It was a complete flyhalf display, and while White was also naturally pleased with the efforts of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie on the night, there was noticeable satisfaction in his voice as he addressed Goosen at his post-match press conference.
“At first, we couldn’t get rhythm and we had a lot of slow ball. Every time we went through a couple of phases, it was like we couldn’t run to the ball,” White said.
“And then as soon as we did and Goosen was able to run to him, and he was able to open holes, we scored or took people out.
“It’s going to get better and better.”
White says the trick now is to get Goosen to play more regularly and is confident the gains will continue.
“The more he plays and the more they play around him, the better. I’m very excited because we’re not even halfway through the competition, we’re scoring a lot of tries and we look dangerous every time our backs get the ball,” he said.
“Goosen probably hasn’t been given as many opportunities as I would have liked at number 10, because he hasn’t been able to train there for long periods of time.
“He got injured, he came back and we used him as a fullback because the team needed him more in that position, especially when we lost our Springboks.
“He needs to get playing time in the number 10, and if that’s the kind of game he’s going to play after a limited amount of time running in the number 10 jersey, then obviously we’re very excited about where this can go.
“I know it and everyone knows it; he’s a talented player, and I can’t believe he hasn’t played 50 tests for South Africa. He is what he is, and we have to put him back in the saddle now so he can.” he plays as many games as he can.”
The official man of the match was Moodie, who scored two tries and connected magnificently with fullback Arendse, who scored once.
“Every time they kick the ball and Canan, or Kurt-Lee catches it, you can feel it, and even the crowd feels like something is going to happen,” White said.
“When you combine that with guys like Cornal [Hendricks]lionel [Mapoe]harold [Vorster] And Johan Goosen when he sings like he did tonight, it’s fantastic.”
