Sintu Manjezi has returned to the Vodacom Bulls with renewed vigour, crediting his stint abroad for developing him into a versatile forward.
Manjezi re-joined the Bulls from Vodacom URC title-holders Glasgow Warriors in July, and made his first appearance during a north-south derby victory against DHL Western Province two weeks ago.
Able to play lock and blindside flanker, the versatile campaigner scored a try in a resounding win for The Herd over the Griffons in Welkom last Sunday.
Manjezi featured for the Bulls between 2020 and 2021, and speaking to the media on Tuesday, the former Cheetahs and Griquas powerhouse highlighted his learnings after two seasons with the Warriors in Scotland under the stewardship of Franco Smith.
“Going overseas I wanted to test myself in a new environment. I’m grateful for that opportunity but coming home, I’m familiar with Bulls rugby,” the 29-year-old told reporters.
“I learnt from those weather conditions and playing the kind of rugby we played at Glasgow, and having that experience and bringing it back to the Bulls environment has helped me a lot.
“Before I left, if it was raining you kept it tight, but going over there you need to be able to play in wet conditions – catch and make long passes – and not be shy to move the ball. I had to adapt to that.
“I try to be physical, I like carrying the ball and doing breakdown work and calling the lineout, so if I can bring all those attributes together I can put myself in contention for selection at this union.”
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“Franco is very hard on standards and he drives that quite well during the week, and he was in charge of our mauls and how quickly we played. If you look at how Glasgow mauled [last season] it was one of the game-changers for us,” Manjezi added.
“And speed of play, especially at the ruck, which is something Franco had at the Cheetahs and brought to Glasgow.”
Jake White is blessed with a bevy of talent at lock and across the back row, and Manjezi believes the competition for places at the Bulls will take his game to the next level.
“I’ve been competing ever since I started playing rugby so I have to be ready for the fight,” he said.
“You’ve got to be a utility forward and be able to play multiple positions; my first game back [last season] I played at 7, and I’m playing 4 and 5 in the Currie Cup. It’s about rotating and using all my skills.
“Cobus [Wiese] and I, and the other new signings, have been told that we’re coming in [to the Currie Cup] to learn the Bulls system and get used to the plays before the URC guys come in.
“So we’re trying to push and show that when everyone’s back together in the first week of the URC we want to be involved in that matchday 23.”
The Bulls host the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening, and on the challenge posed by the 2-0 defending Currie Cup champions, Manjezi says, “They like to keep the ball and have a high ball-in-play time.
“They’ve done well since the start of the Currie Cup so we have to match that speed of play, but we’ve also got to be physical.”
Photo: Marnus Prinsloo/Gallo Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
