Lion cubs look dangerous

Lion cubs look dangerous

13 Jul 2009

Golden Lions assistant coach Carl Spilhaus was delighted with his side’s 34-6 victory against the SWD Eagles on the opening day of Craven Week.

Click here for Day 1 match reports

The Young Eagles won the unofficial Craven Week final in Pretoria last year, but the class of 2009 were totally outplayed by their Jo’burg counterparts in East London.

‘We are happy with the win, especially as the Eagles were the form side at the 2008 tournament,’ Spilhaus told keo.co.za.

‘However, we really let ourselves down at times, especially in the backs where we ran laterally. We seemed to play in fits and starts and lacked continuity at certain stages. In saying this, I thought when we did string some phases together we looked dangerous.’

Spilhaus was particularly pleased with the performances of the Lions’ two flankers from Monument.

‘Jimmy Hughes and JP le Grange were outstanding and won numerous turnovers that effectively nullified their dangerous backs,’ he said.

While the Lions have started well, they will need to sharpen up in certain areas according to the assistant coach.

‘We know that we will have to up our game on Wednesday,’ he said.

SWD coach Braam Tucker was disappointed with his side’s performance and admitted that ‘elementary’  mistakes and poor decision-making effectively cost them the game.

Meanwhile, Western Province coach Chris October heaped praise on his players after their 49-15, eight-try annihilation of Eastern Province.

‘We are happy with the performance,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘We have really focused on just taking it one game at a time and today we did the business.’

October was pleased with the way the Province side moved the ball into space, in particular the centre pairing of Sam Lane and JP du Plessis, who put the outside backs into space every time they ran at the opposition. Lane, normally a flyhalf, distributed the ball superbly and the tactic of playing two decision makers with vision at 10 (William van Wyk) and 12 (Lane) paid dividends for WP.

‘Sam is a natural footballer who has great vision and the same can be said about William and JP, they complemented each other very well today,’ said October, who was also quick to credit the tight five and in particular livewire hooker Gary Topkin.

‘Our set pieces were outstanding and we physically dominated EP in the tight facets of the game. We won all our lineouts today and Gary needs to be acknowledged for this. Our tight five really laid the platform.’

However, it was not all plain sailing for WP and they will need to tighten up in a few areas if they are to be serious contenders at Craven Week. Their defence was porous at times and they seemed to lose concentration in the second half. Their goal kicking is also a concern as Van Wyk had only a 50% success rate. In tighter games this could come back to haunt the Cape outfit.

‘We will need to address certain aspects of our game,’ said October. ‘Our players seemed fatigued at one stage early in the second half. We need to maintain focus for the full 70 minutes.’

Craven Week continues on Tuesday, with Boland playing the Blue Bulls and Free State taking on KwaZulu-Natal in the pick of the fixtures.

By Gareth Wright


32 Comments

  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2009, 20:12 pm

    free state wps main concern

  • 2.I wanna be coach: Reply to this comment
    13 Jul 2009, 22:39 pm

    Go Lions!!! Why interview the assistent coach though…?

  • 3.kesbok: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 00:50 am

    its the monument boys high squad with a couple of KES boys!

  • 4.Die Beav: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:07 am

    I think there is going to be a couple of players going AWOL!!
    Did you check the wind yesterday, some of the lightweght laaities must be protected.

  • 5.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:16 am

    Wallaby team for Saturday…

    Adam Ashley-Cooper, Lachie Turner, Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Richard Brown, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O’Connor.

    Wycliff Palu named in Wallabies squad for All Blacks clash
    By staff writers
    July 14, 2009 The Wallabies will welcome back damaging No.8 Wycliff Palu for Saturday night’s opening match of the Tri-Nations against New Zealand in Auckland.

    Palu’s inclusion is the only change from the Wallabies starting side that beat France 22-6 in Sydney last month.

    Palu takes the place of utility forward Dean Mumm in the starting side, with Western Force loose forward Richard Brown switching from the back of the scrum to the blindside flanker position, from where he will start a Test match for the first time.

  • 6.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:34 am

    Koos !!

  • 7.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:36 am

    #6 Rugby_Princess:
    Princess!!

  • 8.Fern: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:41 am

    #6 Rugby_Princess:
    Morning babes.
    What’s up with what’s going down?

  • 9.Highlander: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:43 am

    #8 Did you watch any of the cravenweek yesterday?

  • 10.money_man: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:50 am

    #5 Koos:

    Powerful pack, plenty of grunt with Palu and Brown in the loosies with Smith as foil… and quick, talented ball players at the back…

    Bring on the AB team….

  • 11.money_man: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:53 am

    #10 money_man:

    Only weak link… Burgess…

  • 12.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 07:54 am

    #10 money_man: I just dont see what everyone else sees in Palu… and as for Polots nau, he goes missing in the tight exchanges against quality opposition..

    I rate Robinson and Alexander, but I dont think either NZ or SA would be shaking in their boots at this line-up…

    any forward pack with Al Baxter still in it isnt too flash…

  • 13.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:02 am

    #7 Koos:
    Wocha doin ?

    #8 Fern:
    Hello Fernly.

    #12 poppa69:
    More Poppa – you forgetting Al Baxter can grimace with the best of them ! :lol:

  • 14.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:03 am

    #13 Rugby_Princess: More Princess.. but this isnt MacDonalds, its test footy… no room for the grimace :D

  • 15.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:05 am

    #11 money_man: Not a lot of options though, I knwo they were talking Ginia last week on the Rugby Club but he is fairly green…maybe they should have a chat with the garden gnome, he is still running around?

  • 16.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:08 am

    #14 poppa69:
    I always wondered if he was trying to frighten the opposing prop with it … Best he breaks out his Plan B though … how many years has he spent cuddling up to Mat “who ate all the pies” Dunning ?

  • 17.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:08 am

    #13 Rugby_Princess: Praat so bietjie kuk met die diere…

  • 18.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:09 am

    #16 Rugby_Princess: Apparently they had a big fall-out…Matt did not stop bragging about his dropgoal…

  • 19.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:11 am

    #16 Rugby_Princess: I personally wouldnt cuddle up too close to donut dunning, especially after he has eaten “all them pies” …

    my mate here reckons he went to school with the donut, says his body shape hasnt changed one bit since school…

  • 20.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:13 am

    #17 Koos:
    Well speak for yourself if you must but why calling these nice people beasties ? :shock:

    #18 Koos:
    & nobody likes a skite :roll:

  • 21.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:15 am

    #19 poppa69:
    Maybe that really jsut is his shape … You can bet Robbie Deans has made him run, lift & sit up plenty.

  • 22.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:19 am

    #21 Rugby_Princess: would Robbie even consider him for the team ? not sure he fits the profile of a Deans player though…

  • 23.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:22 am

    #20 Rugby_Princess: Only mad people talk to themself…

  • 24.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:24 am

    #23 Koos: yeah agreed, its just the internal bickering amongst my many personalities that does my head in :lol:

  • 25.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:26 am

    #22 poppa69:
    I think he did originally … is he no longer in the squad ?

    #23 Koos:
    You sulking ?

  • 26.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:28 am

    #25 Rugby_Princess: Should I be?

  • 27.Dunx: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:36 am

    always good to see youngsters with promise coming through

  • 28.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:36 am

    #25 Rugby_Princess: I dont see his name in the team Koos posted above… maybe in the greater squad, but not travelling to NZ… phew, no shortage of pies for the fans at the bledisloe this weekend then :wink:

  • 29.Koos: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:42 am

    #28 poppa69: He hardly made the Worrytahs team this year, no chance for the Wobblies I would think. Was he not injured as well? Someone posted something a few days ago about him looking ‘very fit and trim’…I assumed that was relatively speaking!

  • 30.Rugby_Princess: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:43 am

    #26 Koos:
    Why you so grumpy then ? Trying to start a fight ? Wait until Saturday & put your lunch money on Ted’s boys ;-)

    #28 poppa69:
    Mwahahahahaaa :lol:

  • 31.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:44 am

    #29 Koos: not sure on the injury Koos, but if he has trimmed down then I have to credit the man… seems Robbie must have said to him to lose a few or he would have no chance of making the squad, sounds like he took it on board…

  • 32.WilladieLeeu: Reply to this comment
    14 Jul 2009, 08:49 am

    Die Leeus moet nou daai Taute n kontrak gee. Die laatie lyk bleddie goed in 10. En die 2 senters ook.

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.

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