Room for improvement

Room for improvement

10 Jul 2006

Vodacom Western Province coach Kobus van der Merwe realises much more is needed if his team is to win the Absa Currie Cup.

After watching his team secure a rare win over the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, van der Merwe refused to get too excited. Far greater obstacles lie ahead, starting with this weekend’s match in Cape Town against Rassie Erasmus’s Cheetahs.

“I’m just happy we pulled it off against the Bulls after last week’s defeat,” van der Merwe said. “We knew it was going to be tough up at Loftus, but I think the guys were able to take a lot of confidence from the Sharks game.”

Van der Merwe said his team were extra motivated after being written off in the media. “I think at times we played some really good rugby and there was a good energy to the game.”

The fact that Province last won at Loftus back in 2001 meant the win on the weekend was extra special, said van der Merwe.

“We outplayed the Bulls in several departments, especially in the first half. The second half didn’t go on well, but the fact we held on for the win is great for us.

“That said there is definitely room for improvement and one aspect we need to work on is that we didn’t capitalise when they were down to 13 men. We used too many chips and grubbers and kicked the ball away when we should have held onto it.”

Province face the undefeated defending champions at Newlands next weekend. “The Cheetahs are definitely the in-form team at the moment so that will not be easy.” After three rounds, the Cheetahs top the log with 15 points, followed by the Sharks on 14 – both teams have won all their matches.

The Bulls and WP complete the top four, equal on 10 points.

By Andrew Hollely


117 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

  • 101.snoop: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:33 am

    ciccino

    post 95

    i rest my case ………

  • 102.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:38 am

    Hey, i got the century!

  • 103.Koos: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:39 am

    Fair enough Stan, wat dink jy is die geval…?

    My take, en ek sien nie enige CC nie! Die naweek se uitslae was ‘n verrassing, eers die 50+ teen die Leeus was meer as wat ek verwag het. Die Bulle, wel ek het gedink hulle sal ten minste ‘n gemaklike oorwinning behaal. So what gives…?

  • 104.Koos: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:40 am

    Ja super but of a no ball, no one was trying… ;-)

  • 105.Le Fou: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:40 am

    Supa,

    Dan brêk jy ook nog! Ja julle het al daai, maar julle gaan nog steeds nie hierdie jaar die CB wen nie.

  • 106.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:48 am

    Le pou

    En julle gaan?? Moenie my laat lag nie! Moenie te gou praat nie, ons is in rondte 3 van 14. Vrystaat lyk dalk na gunstelinge maar snaakse dinge gebeur…ek meen wp het die bulle gewen – so enigiets is moontlik. Sou jy laasjaar toe die Vrystaat net 4 uit 8 pool games kon wen gese het hulle gaan ccup wen?

  • 107.Le Fou: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:53 am

    Stan se vriendjie,

    Sê nie ons gaan wen nie. Dit sal seker Vrystaat wees en nie WP of julle ossewa pushers nie. At least Province showed some innovation unlike your lot of plodders

  • 108.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 11:56 am

    Hell PA

    Comment by jondood_can_like_to_suck_Luke_Watson’s_TITS : July 10, 2006 @ 11:24 am

    Now here is an example of a good sport.

    Cheers jondood, your a good sport.

  • 109.zama: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 12:23 pm

    Make Melck a springbok

  • 110.Cheetha Champs: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 12:35 pm

    Ooh, this weekend is going to be a cracker…

    Dale Heidtman to terrorise Peter Grant
    Kabamba vs Luke to be EPIC

    Think Cheetahs more organised than Bulls and therefore a far tougher game. Dont think we will kick ball into hands of Aplon and co. Will make those sissy WP forwards work hard for possession.

    Bulls gifted possession this weekend and it cost them the game. Cheetahs wont make same mistake

    Quick question – can anyone tell me when last WP beat the FS in the Currie Cup?? Think it was in 2003?

  • 111.Limerick-Bok: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 13:16 pm

    Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!, Luke!

    NEED I SAY MORE?????

  • 112.Limerick-Bok: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 13:17 pm

    PissAnt,

    How’s the babalas this morning???

  • 113.bluebarb: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 14:57 pm

    well done to the sodomites for an outstanding game on the weekend. for a team to get smashed in the scrums, and still dominate like they did takes some guts, and they displayed it on Sat. I’m glad to see some bulk in the pillowbiters forwards for a change and hope they improve even further.

    well done also to Luke Watson, for being in at least three places at any given time. He played the ref on the day and is always on the edge of legality, but you cannot argue his efficacy. his message after the game to the Loftus Faithful was clearly aimed a lot higher than the fans in the stadium, and i hope that it reached the intended ears.

    well done chaps.

  • 114.sparticus: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 16:05 pm

    It was nice to win , WP must not get carried away , The problem with the bulls are that they do not seem to have a plan B. Having said that we all know that they will be back with a bang and I feel sorry for the puma’s. Teams go in periods that they peak , If u think back u will realise that WP peaked 97 – 2001 , then they went off the boil for a fews years , seems like they on the up once again. Looking forward to the good times again , my only wish is for a decent mongrol tighthead and that Luke stays injury free , I said it from day 1 , make Luke captain , the kid is wise beyond his years and a natural leader.Ciccino , take the loss , no need for crying. WP should have scored more , the bulls were lucky.

  • 115.KingPaul: Reply to this comment
    10 Jul 2006, 19:19 pm

    Shame, maar die blou balle sukkel om ‘n verloor te sluk. Maak nie saak wat die laaste vyf jaar gebeur het nie of wat die Saterdag op Nuweland gaan gebeur of die volgend game tussen die Bulls en Wp nie, die WP het laas Saterdag gewen nadat al julle blouballe ons heelweek vertel het hoe julle ons gaan opfok. Selfde storie laasjaar met die finale. Al wat ons vra is ‘n bietjie respek.

  • 116.Jeffers: Reply to this comment
    11 Jul 2006, 12:15 pm

    Whingers, Whiners, Pathetic ones at that!

    For 3 long years you Bulls have been more than putting 1 over us WP’s with & without refs assistance. We dont moan about cheating or refs BUT rather bemoan the fact that our WP was Bulled into submission & our kuk play & players.

    Along comes WP’s Kindergarten Kidz (laaities) & mo*rs you bulletjies into submission to the margin that you only got into the game with abt 10 minutes to go.

    All of this while the debutant TH Brock Davids (not John, Doos I mean Joost) is being pummeled in the scrums (legally or illegaly). Now if the posts abt “Unsteadie Eddie” being the downfall or the reason the Boks lost are to be believed, there is no way in HELL that WP could win at all Saturday. So how on earth did WP get it rite cos its impossible?

  • 117.Jeffers: Reply to this comment
    11 Jul 2006, 12:48 pm

    WP’z U-21′s DEFEATED THE BULLS IN THERE OWN BACKYARD! SIES!

    AND ALL EXCEPT Matfield, Bakkies, Jacques, FdP, Jaco, Habana, Akona & Roets missing from regular line-up.

    HeeHaa HeeHaa

Pages: « 1 2 [3] Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.