I can change Saracens’ luck at 13 says Marcelo Bosch
Saracens confirmed the signature of former Biarritz utility back Bosch in October when another England centre Brad Barritt was ruled out until Christmas. With Tomkins now forced out, it looks a shrewd bit of business.
Bosch made two appearances for Sarries before lining up against a number of his new teammates, including Tomkins, when England hosted Argentina last month.
But last weekend, with his international season over, Bosch featured for Saracens at outside centre in a hard-fought win over Exeter, adding a mammoth penalty from inside his own half – long-range kicking being part of his skill-set.
Bosch spent the most recent of his seven years with Biarritz switching between inside centre and full-back, but for Argentina he wears No.13 and that is the Saracens shirt he is eyeing.
“At Biarritz I moved around a lot, I played at full-back, No.12 and sometimes fly-half but I like to play at 13, that’s where I play for Argentina,” he said. “I want to play as many games for Saracens as I can. I came here for a new challenge in my life, I wanted to go on a new mission.
“Everyone here has been so welcoming and I just want to play whenever they need me. We have some injuries in the centres and so, hopefully, I can take my chance.
“Of course it’s different here from Biarritz. You have to learn new strategies and new structures but it is still rugby and I am very welcome here.
“It was strange to arrive and then play for Argentina against some of my teammates straight away. But that’s the game of rugby, these things will always happen.
“It was a very hard game for us, England – and the Saracens players – showed how good they are.
“It has been a tough time for Argentina. It was a very disappointing November tour for us.
“We had a new coach, we turned up at the start of the week with the new coach and we played at the weekend, it was not easy.
“But we have put that behind us now that the season is over, we are making progress in the Rugby Championship but I just want to look forward with Saracens.”
Bosch and Saracens appear a perfect fit – not least because of the club’s injury problems in midfield. He adds experience and versatility but also European nous, having helped Biarritz to the Heineken Cup final in 2010 and to the Amlin Challenge Cup title in 2012.
And for Saracens, the European frontier remains the Holy Grail. Last season Toulon got the better of them at the semi-final stage after Clermont had dismantled them in the last eight 12 months previously.
Pack power was their solution with the acquisitions of Billy Vunipola and James Johnston but in Bosch they have someone who knows what it takes to succeed in Europe – even if he denies that is his priority on joining Saracens.
“I don’t think I came here for the Heineken Cup, I came for a new challenge. I had been in France seven years and that had reached the end,” he added.
“With a new language and a new culture and a new team, it was a perfect move for me.
“Saracens is a fantastic club, one of the best in Europe and we want to be competitive in every game we play.
“I think it is a team that can compete in Europe, we have competition for everyone on the field.”
GERARD MEAGHER
