Province ‘fighting for form’
23 Jul 2008
A simple yet structured approach is key to curbing the dangerous Bolanders this Saturday, says WP coach Allister Coetzee.
It was just over a year ago when the heads started to roll at Western Province. After two consecutive failures in the Super 14, a 15-10 defeat to Boland in the Absa Currie Cup was the final nail in the coffin for Kobus van der Merwe.
Coetzee is only five games into the job and under no such pressure, but after back-to-back disappointments against Griquas and the Valke, WP are desperate for victory. Despite their current position, Coetzee told keo.co.za this is no time to panic.
“It may sound a bit strange but these experiences can be very valuable to a new coach. Rassie [Erasmus] went through it in the first three games of the Super 14, and Jake [White] was also struggling at one stage [with the Springboks].
“I don’t think there is a lack of desire in this team, but we need to take the fight to Boland this weekend.”
It is unclear whether WP-contracted Isma-eel Dollie will start for Boland after being officially loaned to the Wellington side last week. The Kavaliers also have Louis Koen on their coaching staff, a man who helped with the Stormers during the Super 14.
These two are certain to hand the smaller side significant intel. It’s one of the major reasons WP have had only one open training session this week, as some alterations to the game plan needed to be made.
“We are trying a few new things and our neighbours aren’t far away. A few of them have played in our system before and know the calls. It’s going to be an interesting game,” said Coetzee.
“We are looking at this Saturday as an opportunity to fix a few problem areas. We have a good defensive system but we slipped off too many tackles last week. The Valke play a high-risk, high-reward kind of game and it came off last week. Our mistakes cost us and we ended up playing catch-up rugby.
“I also wasn’t happy with our attack. We had seven opportunities to score. We’ve got to round off those chances.”
WP captain Gcobani Bobo was one of the few players who stood out, but the Bok centre admitted he was unhappy with the overall showing. Having four Test players back should lift the side for a must-win encounter.
“There is a bit of pressure,” Bobo said. “We didn’t respect the ball last week; our ball retention was definitely not up to scratch. That will be our primary focus against Boland.”
By Jon Cardinelli
44 Comments
23 Jul 2008, 23:19 pm
O jinne WP…. as julle teen Boland verloor dan weet ek nie…….. dan gaan daar ‘n geween en ‘n gekners vannie tanne wees !
Bergbok Drake !
24 Jul 2008, 00:10 am
Teen die Bulle en die leeus was Boland se verdediging vrot gewees. Hierdie keer het die WP ‘n goeie kans.
24 Jul 2008, 00:56 am
So, how did Allister ever get to be an assistant coach of the Boks when he’s stuffing up so spectacularly with WP — one of the proudest “brands” in SA rugby? What does he really and truly know about coaching rugby?
24 Jul 2008, 01:33 am
Jees thank God this guy is not coaching the Boks…although to be fair to him, no other coaches managed anything better – except Rassie in the S14. I guess that proves that Allistair is an average coach.
“The Valke play a high-risk, high-reward kind of game and it came off last week” – WRONG!! it is not high risk, because the laws favour teh attacking team – I have explained this before as well. Ref’s tend to blow for the team attacking because they are ultimately trying to make the game flow. Penalties by the attacking team must be blatant before they get blown. this may explain why it always appears to Bok supporters that teh ref’s tend to support teh other team – it is because we give possession away, and defend all day.
The Valke have commited fully to running rugby – and it is not risky if your loosies KNOW that you will not be kicking, and that they MUST be there to clean an secure ball. The fact that the Valke have taken a few scalps, and have not been thrashed by any magin also reflects that when you keep the ball, the other team can’t score!!
24 Jul 2008, 06:38 am
Imo they are on form!
#3 TheTackler:
A4Y!
24 Jul 2008, 06:52 am
#3 TheTackler: What do you care? You wish only the worst for all SA rugby teams.
24 Jul 2008, 06:56 am
#4 SjamBok: What amazes me when WP do well, how everyone tells what a fcucking genius Rassie is. But when they dont do well it’s now Coetzee’s fault.
Pleeeeez.
24 Jul 2008, 07:17 am
Dollie is playing club rugby, can’t even get a game at Boland. Is he bigger than Luke?
24 Jul 2008, 07:24 am
#8 Loosehead:
No!
24 Jul 2008, 07:30 am
#4 SjamBok: I have been trying to say that since the Sharks vs Valke game. I think us as SA do not give the smaller unions or the “minnows” enough credit. The fact that the Valke made so many breaks in the Sharks match was according to the pundits because the Sharks were Crappy not because the Valke were playing good rugby, now the same again WP lost to Valke because they are down right shite not because the Valke may have played intelligent rugby. I didn’t watch the match so cannot say whether WP did infact play good rugby or not, but I think we need to acknowledge that the Valke this season are a far better team than in previous seasons and they deserve that credit.
24 Jul 2008, 07:32 am
#10 Sharksgirl: So does their coach…
24 Jul 2008, 07:40 am
#6 stavros:
I think you’ll find that Tackler is originally from Cape Town.
24 Jul 2008, 07:45 am
Knock, knock.
24 Jul 2008, 07:45 am
#13 Snoek:
Who’s there?
24 Jul 2008, 07:45 am
#14 Snoek:
WP.
24 Jul 2008, 07:45 am
#13 Snoek:
Who’s there?
24 Jul 2008, 07:46 am
#15 Snoek:
WP who?
24 Jul 2008, 07:46 am
#17 Snoek:
Exactly.
24 Jul 2008, 07:47 am
#11 stavros: Definitely!
24 Jul 2008, 07:48 am
#16 Staal:
Sorry, im playing with myself this morning.
24 Jul 2008, 07:48 am
#18 Snoek: did you have all your oats this morning
24 Jul 2008, 07:49 am
#21 Sharksgirl:
Two bowls, and i’m feeling great.
What is your prediction for our beloved sharks this weekend?
24 Jul 2008, 07:51 am
I’ve never understood why a Sharks supporter would highjack the nic “snoek”. Is there some subliminal jealousy there?
24 Jul 2008, 07:52 am
“Province fighting for form” – there are 3 words in that sentence that cant be used together in one sentence when posting about WP.
24 Jul 2008, 07:53 am
#23 David:
Was wondering about that as well? Snoek in Durbs???
24 Jul 2008, 07:54 am
#20 Snoek: I am sure that came out wrong otherwise its a little more information than we needed
24 Jul 2008, 07:57 am
The dangerous Bolanders?
To what depths have WP sunk in the space of two games?
24 Jul 2008, 07:58 am
#22 Snoek: I predict a win, the Boks will inject much needed umpf into the team also Deysel and Barritt are back for the game so I predict a solid win, don’t know about a bonus point though.
This is the team I hope gets chosen:
15 Odwa Ndugane
14 Wesley Bodmer
13 Waylon Murray
12 Bradley Barritt
11 Chris Jordaan
10 Ruan Pienaar
9 Charl McLeod
8 Ryan Kankowski
7 Jean Deysel
6 Jaques Botes
5 Johan Muller
4 Stephen Sykes
3 Jannie Dup (BJ still injured)
2 Skipper
1 Beast/Deon
24 Jul 2008, 07:58 am
#27 Windhoek.Lager:
It’s called an Abyss!!
24 Jul 2008, 08:01 am
GO SHARKS!!!! just getting ready for next year.
24 Jul 2008, 08:07 am
#30 stavros: Why next year? be positive we may be in a bit of trouble but I am sure we will pull through! I was saying to my hubby just the other day, for all these years (Putt era excluded) we have missed winning any silverware playing good attacking rugby, watch us win this CC only because we are playing poorly
24 Jul 2008, 08:09 am
get your facts right loosehead wp dont want to release him until next week.
24 Jul 2008, 08:11 am
#31 Sharksgirl: We lost our ability to attack the day Campese was thrown out the door.
24 Jul 2008, 08:14 am
#28 Sharksgirl: What about Kockott? Is he injured?
24 Jul 2008, 08:17 am
Mind you – my teams form was ok maar useless in die S14!
24 Jul 2008, 08:17 am
#34 stavros:
No – his head has become so big he is walking upright and that seems to be a problem!
24 Jul 2008, 08:29 am
#33 stavros: I agree! They need to get a new skills and attacking coach and fast!
#34 stavros: Yep Rory is still injured and no good news yet, they cannot say yet when he will be able to play.
24 Jul 2008, 08:30 am
Were we really that depleted that Griquas and the Valke were always in with a chance of beating us? AC should be in kak for those losses.
24 Jul 2008, 08:32 am
#35 Staal: I think S14 was just getting used to a new coach and some players had other agendas (Bakkies and Habana) however all those problems have been ironed out. Hope you maintain this form in S14! and I sincerely hope the SHarks get some form before the S14
But it sounds like we will have a Kiwi attacking coach for S14 lets hope!
#36 Staal:
24 Jul 2008, 08:40 am
What a load off bull. If you start talking up the bottom of the table team and talk of switching your calls, have closed practice seesions you know one of two things, your team is **** or your coach is ****. Jeeshhh, I wonder which one is it. 100 bucks Rassie will get an SOS shortly.
24 Jul 2008, 08:57 am
#40 Benchsitter: He already has, Last week I believe before the Valke game – I kid you not!
24 Jul 2008, 09:04 am
Morning all……
#41 Sharksgirl: almost like what happened last year with the bulls in the currie cup when Heineke was also roped in
24 Jul 2008, 09:33 am
This particular WP team should beat Boland comfortably at Newlands. They just went through a temporary “dip” and it does not mean that Alistair is now suddenly a bad coach. We should reserve our judgement on him until the end of the season.
I am also looking forward to see what Koster can add coming off the bench. That boy has awesome talent.
24 Jul 2008, 09:55 am
#42 EEE: Yes you are right, I remember that!
#43 Robzim: That is what I keep telling myself about the Sharks this year
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