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Papier yearns for the Green and Gold

rugby09 July 2019 15:27| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Embrose Papier © Gallo Images

If there is one thing that Springbok halfback Embrose Papier didn't enjoy over the past few weeks, it was the sight of seeing the Springboks train at Loftus Versfeld.

Papier's absence from the Bok squad was perhaps expected given his lack of game time over the past few weeks for the Bulls and the emergence of Andre Warner as the No 1 scrumhalf, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow for one of South Africa's rising stars.

And while he was at Loftus readying himself for the Currie Cup opener against DHL Western Province this weekend, the Vodacom Blue Bulls star was watching from the outside, looking at a Bok squad that he, until recently, was part of.

But that has just motivated Papier more, especially as he now looks for the opportunity to get the confidence back that he lost during the season.

"I've got the opportunity now to show what I can do and I need to use it. To see the Springboks here in Pretoria, motivated me a lot to give everything," he said ahead of the Province game.

"I think there are a number of guys who can put up their hands and who have a lot of talent they can show off in the Currie Cup, and I guess I am one of them. I respect any coach's decision at the Bulls, even if he picks someone ahead of me, I will always go out and do my best if I get onto the field."

But while Papier has little control over the Bulls rotational policy with their three halfbacks, he does admit that he lost confidence by not getting enough time on the field, and for a confidence player like him it hit him hard.

"It’s a difficult question, but I think for any guy to play – you want to play to get confidence and I am a player that relies a lot on confidence. If you have confidence then you walk out onto the field confident. I think I had a few games but if I get some time now in the Currie Cup, I'd get a chance to prove myself. I didn't get much time, but took every game as it came.

"I always respect the coach's decisions, but there were times when I did have a good game and then was rotated, and it made my confidence take a knock. It hurt me," he admitted.

With Manie Libbok now the No 1 flyhalf, Papier looks forward to reigniting a partnership that served the two well at junior level.

"Manie and I have played together since SA Schools days. We know each other very well and communicate well on the field. It will be great to play with him again but otherwise it is more about structure, so we take it game for game."

The Bulls may not be one of the favourites in this year's competition and know they have a tough task on their hands against Province this weekend. Still, they are quietly confident.

"We've got a good team, and they are young. But the structures we have are good, and if we remain tight, then we can do it. We were unlucky last year against WP and there are a number of players who are here again this year, so I think we can do well," Papier adds.

"It’s going to be a tough game, and the team that stands up and dominates the set-pieces and sticks to their structures will win."

The game kicks off at 5:15pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

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