United Rugby Championship: ‘Tremendous’ Jake White brings out the best in Madosh Tambwe
2G481GA Monigo stadium, Treviso, Italy, 19 Jun 2021, Happiness of Madosh Tambwe (Bulls) after scoring a try during Rainbow Cup 2021 Final - Benetton Treviso vs Vodacom Blue Bulls, Rugby Guinness Pro 14 match - Photo Ettore Griffoni / LM
Bulls wing Madosh Tambwe revealed it has been “tremendous” to work with coach Jake White, who has brought out the best in him.
Tambwe has played for the Lions and the Sharks before the Bulls, and whilst he showed glimpses of brilliance, the speedster could not string together an extended period of high performance.
Turn of fortunes
However, in the United Rugby Championship this season, the 25-year-old has caught the eye with his blistering pace and impressive finishing ability. Tambwe puts that down to the Bulls environment under White.
“For me, a move from the Sharks to the Bulls, coming here, coach Jake already had guys like Stravino (Jacobs) and Kurt-Lee (Arendse) as his starting wings, so I needed to work on something that would give me a point of difference,” Tambwe told IOL.
“I took my time to put effort into my craft in terms of that part of my position qualities – to have a point of difference when the team gets selected. I just help with that extra attack … speed, retrieving high balls gives us a way to retrieve possession back.
“Working with coach Jake has been tremendous. He has honestly brought out the best of me.
“He challenges me in various ways – not just as a rugby player, but as a team guy off the field. Working with him has been a great aspect of my career to date, and hopefully we can finish that relationship on a high on Saturday.”
Tambwe will bid farewell to the Bulls after their URC final against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday to join Bordeaux next season.
“I’ve got a great relationship with coach Jake, first of all, and when I spoke to him with regards to my move to the Top 14, he understood it,” he added. “And as much as he has been adamant of me (not) leaving, I think he’s understood where I come from, and the reason behind it.
“Just like every good thing comes to an end, unfortunately … But I want to give back to him because he has been a tremendous guy.
“He uplifted my career from when I got here, and the one thing I can do in terms of repaying him is playing my socks off and hopefully playing a role in securing that trophy, and bringing it back to Loftus Versfeld.”
United Rugby Championship final preview - Stormers v Bulls
Planet Rugby previews the United Rugby Championship final between the Stormers and Bulls in Cape Town.