Double blow for WP
3 Jul 2006
There seems to be no end to the barrage of injuries afflicting Vodacom Western Province this season, as Neil de Kock and Attie Winter become the latest victims.
De Kock, who only played for the last six minutes of the game when he replaced Bolla Conradie is said by WP coach Kobus van der Merwe to have suffered a concussion.
“He will be out for between three and four weeks,” Van Der Merwe said. “It is a pity that we lose Neil’s experience now, but we have Paul Delport to fall back onto. He will come into the squad for the game against the Blue Bulls.â€
The more immediate concern for Van Der Merwe, is the loss of Winter in the tighthead berth. Winter was replaced at halftime by Brock Harris after he tore a pectoral muscle, and will miss the remainder of the season.
WP fought hard throughout the game and looked to have managed a huge upset over their coastal rivals, but a wayward line-out throw by replacement hooker Huia Edmonds led to a try that clinched it for the Sharks. Schalk Brits had been brought off as a precaution moments before, as his troublesome knee was still not 100%.
“Schalk was on a 50/50 call whether he was going to play or not and we initially thought we would only give him 40 minutes with his knee. He almost played 70 minutes and we thought we would put Huia Edmonds on. He is a good rugby player, but these things happen.”
Van Der Merwe believed that when Province were awarded a line-out with time running short on the clock, the scoreboard reading 25-21 to the good, they had it in the bag.
“I looked at the clock and I sent the instruction on – there were 20 seconds left on the clock and we got the lineout – maul the ball, keep it until the clock is run down and kick the ball out. We then went and we lost the bloody line-out.â€
Despite the disappointment, there was plenty to be happy with, as WP put on a great display of running rugby at Newlands.
“That is the type of rugby we want to play,” said Van Der Merwe. “It was a superb game of rugby from both sides. I think that was what the people like to see from WP. That is keeping the ball in hand and using the exciting guys we have out wide. We also have to be intelligent about it and I think that worked for us on the day.
“We scored four great tries. I don’t think a lot of people thought we have mauling capability in our pack and it was an outstanding mauling effort.
“I’m really pleased with the four tries and I said to the guys in the change room we had them for 79 minutes and forty seconds and you make one silly error and you lose.”
A positive sign for the team was the way youngsters like Gio Aplon and Robbie Diack hit form for the big occasion.
“As Luke (Watson) said, there are so many youngsters putting their hands up … Robbie Diack had another stormer and so did Gio Aplon. I’m very pleased about that,” remarked Van Der Merwe.
“Egon (Seconds) looked sharp and Corné Uys was good. So I am extremely positive. Like Luke said, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We learnt a lot from the mistakes we’ve made in the last 20 seconds.â€
61 Comments
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3 Jul 2006, 15:34 pm
redox
i agree. De Kock is not good and Harris better than winter
3 Jul 2006, 15:38 pm
suparugby
Yes, At least now VDMerwe is forced to see how a few new guys will cope with playing at this level rather than continually playing guys we all know arent good enough particularly for s14 same with the lions even though they have lost their last 2 games they are developing a few younger players who may turn out to be stars in future.
3 Jul 2006, 16:15 pm
CFB – re the comment about Dollie – what confuses me is that they dont offer Dollie a contract cos he is too small , but them go out and get Naas for the S14 ????!!!! The last time I check Naas was no Honiball , fact is I bet he and Dollie is about the same size. Anyway , I rate the Naas and actually think he is good for us but I wish Dollie could be part of WP as well and they (WP) would just call a spade a spade
3 Jul 2006, 16:35 pm
Guys…
I don’t think we should be too harsh on anyone – coach or players.
It’s always easy to pick on one or things things and one or two players and blame them for the loss, but that was some of the most exciting (and heart-breaking) rugby played at Newlands in a looong time.
Before the game, no one gave us a rats-*** chance and the guys came very, very close to pulling it off.
Aplon was great… took his 7s form into the game… and the little guy can tackle too…
Diack is also something hey. Although he reminds me a bit of Mallet when he played… Not too quick, but robust and strong and seems to read the game pretty well too…
For the first time in a long time I really feel we have something positive to build on… Instead of knocking the guys lets look at the overall picture, which is a heck of lot rosier now than it was last week…
Pity more of you couldn’t get to the game…
3 Jul 2006, 16:42 pm
was definitely one of the best games newlands has seen in a long time. Diack could be the ‘enforcer’ we have been missing – great strong player.
dont know so much about Watson as captain though. not saying he was a bad captain but his presence on the ground was missed, as evident by the number of turnovers conceded on the ground because as captain he was having to standoff to read / call the plays.
3 Jul 2006, 16:44 pm
ufo – hear hear. Sharks thought they only had to turn up to win. In fact things were very difficult for them.
3 Jul 2006, 18:13 pm
Seeing the headline, I wondered who got a double bl*wjob at province!
3 Jul 2006, 18:17 pm
A great thread but jeez can’t some of you guys LEARN TO SPELL AND USE GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION!!!!
4 Jul 2006, 06:09 am
Guys as a Sharks supporter let me tell you WP played a very good game and the game literally was a flip of the coin. The Sharks threw a lot of opportunities away and WP basically had the game in the bag but for the final few seconds. Very entertaining. For the few chaps who are questioning Watson go and look at the tape again. Man Watson ripped turn over after turn over and was solely responsible for that length of the field try.
Watson has an attitude that would clash with JW and thus will struggle to make the Boks while JW is coach – unless JW changes his mind and game plan. With Schalk out he may just have to.
I do hate it when a people and the coach especially try and pin point the blame for the loss. Trying to blame Edmonds for the kak line out throw as the cause of the loss is pathetic. What about the missed penalty kicks by Naas?? For me that was 6 points DIRECTLY lost. What about all the other line outs that Schalk lost, or the turn overs or the missed tackle or cover that let in a try. The game is played over 80 minutes and the mistakes that occur in the last seconds are just as bad as the mistakes that happend in the opening seconds.
4 Jul 2006, 10:54 am
CMM, sorry boet, but Luke outplayed Britz by a mile on Saturday, he was at every breakdown and he made the hard yards, hell we battled to bring him down every time he carried the ball.
I am an ardent sharks supporter, but am not blinded when guys from another province play well and Luke Watson played out of his socks!!
4 Jul 2006, 12:02 pm
OHOPOHO!!!!
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