Province polish kicking game for final
23 Oct 2012
Allister Coetzee has identified the kicking game as all-important in what should be a rain-affected final at Kings Park this Saturday.
The Sharks go into this clash with the form pack of forwards as far as the breakdown and scrums are concerned. When it comes to the lineout and mauling, however, it is the WP heavies that will have the edge.
A dominant forward showing is typically at the heart of every championship-winning performance, but so too is a tactical-kicking display that allows a team to win the territorial battle. And when the conditions are poor, this battle becomes even more important.
Last Saturday’ semi-final in Durban was marred by wet weather, but the Sharks adapted accordingly to beat the Blue Bulls 20-3. The Sharks dominated the territory in this fixture, and it is something that hasn’t escaped the attention of their next opponents.
It will be raining in Durban again this Saturday, and Coetzee is preparing his WP charges for a tactical arm-wrestle in testing conditions.
‘We have played in a few games that have been rain-affected this year,’ said the WP coach, ‘and upon review of those games we have picked up a few things. We’ve learned a few lessons and got a few new ideas, so we’re not adverse to playing in those wet conditions again.
‘I thought the Sharks were excellent in the way they kept the Bulls to just three points. Their plan is working, they really succeeded in strangling them. We will, however, be prepared to cope with that kind of challenge this week.’
Province beat the Lions last week thanks to a last-gasp pushover try. The manner of victory highlighted the composure of what is a young and inexperienced squad, as well as the threat of their forwards. Coetzee, however, was disappointed with the overall performance and will demand more of his charges this week.
‘We’ve got to make sure we pitch up and win the little battles: in the forwards, the kicking game… all of them. We have to execute better than we did in Johannesburg. Everybody is excited about the big occasion, but you still have to execute on the day.’
Coetzee said he didn’t mind that his green side were being written off ahead of the big final at Kings Park. According to the coach, who has already led the Cape side to two finals and three semi-final appearances in three years, form counts for very little in these do-or-die clashes.
‘You always want to be the underdog, but we are happy with where we are as a team. It’s a final, the team that makes the least mistakes and takes their opportunities, who plays for 80 minutes, will win it.
‘Our motto is to stay in the moment, we will forget about what has happened already this season [WP have lost to the Sharks twice], and keep our heads in the moment.’
Coetzee’s reference to the kicking game suggests that players like scrumhalf Nic Groom, flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis and fullback Gio Aplon will have important roles to play in the strive for territory.
Some will feel that Joe Pietersen may have been more suited to a contest where kicking is all important, but Coetzee feels the left boot of Aplon will complement the right hoof of Catrakilis.
Pietersen could, however, have an influential role to play in the second half, as could a substitute like Louis Schreuder. WP were at their best during the final 20 minutes of last week’s semi-final, and both these players made significant contributions.
Some would argue that they deserve a promotion, but Coetzee would rather that they stick to the task of making an impact late in the game.
‘They’ve made an impact and that’s what we wanted them to do. I don’t think we will change much in terms of selection. You look at the other guys [who are starting], they are not good at coming off the bench. We must use what we have.
‘Louis played his part as back-up 10, while Joe kicked well and showed good composure with ball in hand. Even a guy like Jebb Sinclair made a crucial lineout steal. Those are the kinds of contributions we need from our impact players.’
By Jon Cardinelli
19 Comments
23 Oct 2012, 08:04 am
I agree Alister.
This constant fascination with promoting players to the starting 15 once they make a massive impact from the bench is strange to me. Players coming on are expected to make an impact, that is why they are called “impact players” no? Anyway, since the time of Skinstadt there is this tendency to take guys who make their greatest impact in a second half when opposition players are tyring and wanting to promote them to start the game where their impact is somewhat nullified.
Look at Francois Hougaard as a case in point. At the World Cup last year he was massive when coming on a as a sub, this year as a starting player not so much. These types of players can do a lot more damage in the final 20 or 30 minutes when they are fresh and they have had a change to assess the opposition from the sidelines.
23 Oct 2012, 08:08 am
@Craven-1:
Hougaard’s dip in form is a combo of second season slump and over-coaching and not whether he’s starting or coming off the wood.
23 Oct 2012, 08:14 am
if it stays dry
sharks will shaft wp by 20+
in the wet
sharks by 10
23 Oct 2012, 08:19 am
@wpstormerbok-2:
when i first saw hougaard play, i said he’d become the best player in the world’
and i still believe that will happen
in order for him to reach his potential though, he needs to leave the bulls and either join the sharks or cheetahs
the gameplan employed by the bulls plays directly to his weaknesses
if he were given the freedom and license to thrill in a team like the sharks, we’ll see the best out of him
23 Oct 2012, 08:21 am
Cape Town –
The Sharks are optimistic that concussed prop Jannie du Plessis will be cleared to play in the Currie Cup final against Western Province in Durban on Saturday.
Du Plessis left the field in the first half of their semi-final against the Blue Bulls last week after he knocked heads with team-mate Anton Bresler.The Springbok will now be evaluated according to the South African Rugby Union’s Boksmart-protocol to determine his readiness for the game.But Sharks team doctor, Ewoudt van der Linde, is confident that Du Plessis will be able to take the field on Saturday.”Jannie won’t be involved in any contact sessions before Thursday when we’ll be able to make a final decision on his availability. We are currently busy with a clinical evaluation of his condition on the computer and everything looks positive. He’s not experiencing headaches anymore and his balance is also good. I believe he’ll be ready to play,” he told the Beeld website.A further boost for the Durbanites will be the return to training of Odwa Ndungane (ankle) en Jacques Botes (back spasm) on Tuesday.
23 Oct 2012, 08:21 am
It starts…
23 Oct 2012, 08:57 am
@Guns-6: Yes it does, slinga.
Another day, another round.
* ding ding ding
23 Oct 2012, 09:26 am
@jacoshark-3:
I think you’re fogetting that this is finals rugby.
Whilst the Sharks are probably favourites playing at home and the relatively small injury list,(Bismark and Frans being the only 2 to mention really), final games do funny things to the players nerves.
One strange ref call or bounce of the ball could be massively influential.
Also, Province pose a much larger threat to the Sharks than the Bulls did. I doubt Catrekilis will be as inefectual as Steyn was.
I watched that Semi again last night and for the first 30 mins the Sharks were actuall pretty average. Getting turned over and just playing pretty amatuer rugby.(might have had something to do with the conditions.)
Mellet tripped Lambie in the 30th minute and that seemed to change the complexion of the game and the Bulls were never in it from then on.
This is going to be another cracker and I think you may have overstated your prediction there.
23 Oct 2012, 09:54 am
‘You always want to be the underdog
Now that is a loser mentality.
I wonder if a team like NZ always want to be the underdogs?
Grow some balls Coetzee!!
23 Oct 2012, 10:11 am
Right now, I have the strange feeling I had in 2001, when Sharks hosted WP in foul conditions.
Im a Sharks man through and through, so I hope that its nothing like 2001.
23 Oct 2012, 10:45 am
I was not impressed by the star-studded WP backline on Saturday. Ok, Brachie did impede them for most of the match but still.
Lions subs were dirt poor. Cost them the match.
I hope the Sharks win but have a funny feeling history is on on WP’s side. Jean de Villiers is out injured, good championship omen….
23 Oct 2012, 11:06 am
@Lions_Soutie-11:
What star studded WP backline?
23 Oct 2012, 11:50 am
They have to keep Catrikillis on, we need a good goal kicker in the final quarter of a final. Joe choked and will choke again if we use him as goal kicker. Bring him on at fullback, but don’t replace Catrikillis with Schreuder.
23 Oct 2012, 12:01 pm
@Stawm-12: Habs, De Jongh, Aplon, little Percy were outplayed by Lions no name brands.
23 Oct 2012, 12:13 pm
10 Bullett – it was actually in 2000 when the Sharks hosted Province. In 30 mins, Gaffie du Toit handed the Cup to Province on a plate, with Breyten Paulse having a great 2nd half. In 2001 Province hosted the Sharks at Newlands which was the last time Province won the damn thing. Also Mr Black, the reason teams often want to be the underdog is because rugby is one of the few sports on the world stage where, the moment teams believe they are invincible (i.e. being the favourite) they trip and fall over. Whilst logic suggests that the Sharks should win, anything can happen on the day especially if a team runs onto the field with that “I am the favourite” tag. Nothing whatsoever to do about a loser mentality.
23 Oct 2012, 12:53 pm
WP players a year out from closing out a game like this.
Unfortunately Sharks to win a close game.
Too many youngsters – too little experience.
23 Oct 2012, 13:04 pm
@Lions_Soutie-14:
Habs is the only one that can count in a Star-Studded phrase IMO.
23 Oct 2012, 13:11 pm
@Pietie-15:
Wanting to be the underdog is a loser mentality. Negative thinking bring negative results.
23 Oct 2012, 13:47 pm
@Stawm-17: Fair enough. Sad when Springbok doesn’t mean star anymore.
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