Kurt-Lee Arendse has shrugged off a four-week suspension and is eager for a Springbok recall to face Argentina in Durban next week.
Selected in August to make his Bok debut against the All Blacks in Nelspruit to replace the injured Cheslin Kolbe, Arendse was having a great game until a heavy collision with Beauden Barrett led to a ban.
In the second half, Jaden Hendrikse launched a box-kick on Beauden Barrett and, as the All Blacks playmaker jumped, an over-eager Arendse slammed into him and Barrett landed on his neck. The referee red-carded Arendse and he was later suspended until 17 September.
“It happened so fast,” Arendse told Netwerk24. “One must simply learn from it, to ensure it doesn’t happen again when faced with a similar situation. But stuff like this happens and I can’t allow it to get me down.”
Arendse’s career trajectory has been up since he joined the Vodacom Bulls and the Bok finisher credits the environment created by coach Jake White for his blockbuster Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign.
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“Coach Jake showed that he believed in me and his trust helps a lot. I’m just glad I could utilise the opportunity to help the Bulls throughout a good campaign.
“This season will be more difficult and the ball will probably be kicked less toward my side, but we’re planning to attack from the back, so we’ve got no plans to deviate from that.”
When asked about potentially playing alongside Sbu Nkosi and Canan Moodie for the Bulls this season, the wing said counter-attacking is a key component of the Bulls’ plan and will utilise the back three’s speed.
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“We’re all attacking players and it’s easy to play free-flowing rugby given our current set-up. Coach Jake was very clear about the brand of rugby he wanted us to play, and by bringing together the right group of players, he has managed to instil a new pattern in our game.”
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