No pressure on Province

No pressure on Province

24 Oct 2012

JON CARDINELLI writes that a young and depleted Western Province team is likely to lose this Saturday. It’s a probable outcome that shouldn’t be met with the typical public lament.

Neither the Stormers nor Western Province have won a title of substance since 2001. It’s a fact that’s shaped public expectation ahead of every subsequent campaign.

When the Stormers fail in the Super Rugby competition, the inevitable public fall-out is soon followed by a greater sense of expectation in the Currie Cup. The pressure builds with each failed campaign, as does the expectation. The situation is rarely taken into account.

I’m not suggesting that we should accept the Stormers and WP are not good enough to win a title. For a top franchise or union to go 12 years without winning a big trophy… it’s indefensible.

This is the only conclusion one can reach when considering the bigger picture. However, you also have to accept that there will be seasons where the Cape side is weakened and depleted, and so cannot be expected to go all the way. And 2012 has been one of those seasons.

If one is to consider the situation, the Stormers overachieved in this year’s Super Rugby competition. Their situation was so dire that they were asking club players to start in their back row towards the end of the tournament.

In spite of the injuries, some of these to key personnel with international experience, the Stormers were able to finish at the top of the Super Rugby log. Yes, they played their semi-final at Newlands, but they were always going to be the underdogs fielding second- and third-choice provincial players against a Sharks side stacked with Springboks.

When the Cape public lifted itself out of yet another period of depression, they grew optimistic. Surely WP would set things right in the Currie Cup?

But national call-ups and further injuries continued to undermine the Cape crusade. Schalk Burger, Nizaam Carr, and Nick Koster were always considered doubtful to return in the domestic competition, and it didn’t help when the likes of Dewaldt Duvenage, Siya Kolisi, Rynhardt Elstadt and Kurt Coleman succumbed to season-ending injuries. Then returning Boks of the calibre of Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker and Tiaan Liebenberg were ruled out of the Currie Cup play-offs.

When you add up all of these losses, how can you realistically expect WP to beat the Sharks in Durban?

I’m not saying it’s impossible, I’m merely stating that it’s unlikely considering Province’s handicap. It would be a miracle if they could pull it off, but it wouldn’t be a disaster if they did not.

You have to give Allister Coetzee and his coaches credit for the manner in which they have responded to the challenge this year. The Stormers won the South African conference trophy and topped the Super Rugby log in spite of crippling injuries to key players. A young WP side has been further depleted over the course of the Currie Cup, and yet they are still through to the final. It speaks volumes for the team culture and structures.

I don’t think the guts as well as the collective clout of this Province side will be sufficient this Saturday. My statement is made in the context of who they are up against: a Sharks side that is stacked with players that have not only won the Currie Cup twice in the past four years, but also players that have won greater accolades at international level.

There is individual brilliance in this Sharks side, but there’s also a strong sense of unity. And it would follow that a united Bok-laden Sharks team playing in Durban would be too strong for a united-yet-understrength WP side.

People like to look at the newspaper and see the world in black and white, not in shades of grey. Teams are either excellent or rubbish, individuals are either heroes or villains. I expect that the Cape newspapers will run the same old headlines on Sunday, and there will be very little perspective. The Sharks will be heroes, and WP will be villains.

And yet, perspective demands that we see Province’s task as immense. The Sharks have all the advantages and if they were to lose, it would be regarded as a choke. For WP, however, a loss could not be aligned with the disappointments of yesteryear, even though it will go down in history as yet another lost final.

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359 Comments

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  • 1.Jinx2: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 05:21 am

    WP rules Dragons

  • 2.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 05:38 am

    sharks are overwhelming favourites to win the currie cup.

  • 3.optiplay: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 05:50 am

    JC you should be grateful that Duvenage got injured Now you have a no 9 with some zip. And what is this with premature excuses?WP wil allways be competitive.

  • 4.skunk: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:08 am

    Excuses.

  • 5.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:17 am

    It seems the guppies mentor is as thick as some of the folk who support his team….

    John Plumtree (Gallo Images)
    Related Links
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    Cape Town – Sharks coach John Plumtree says they won’t fall into the “trap” set by Western Province who labelled them as favourites for the Currie Cup final at Kings Park on Saturday.

    “That’s a bunch of nonsense,” he told the Beeld website, referring to WP coach Allister Coetzee’s claims that the Sharks will start as overwhelming favourites.

    “We won’t fall far it. I know what he (Coetzee) is trying to achieve. He wants to put all the pressure on us and make it look like we almost can’t lose. So I don’t buy that one. They just want to make us too assured and then catch us cold.”

    Uh duh? No Plumtree, you are the favourites. Even your captain Keegan Daniel reckons so :)

    The Springbok loose forward felt playing at home would give them an advantage over their Cape Town rivals.

    “The last two years we weren’t as consistent and you know that it’s tough to win a final away from home,” he said.

    “You do have a slight edge when you do host a final.

    The guppies are doing far too much talking this week it seems. (But they will still win) The 1st scrum will tell a story. C’mon the WP teenagers!!!!

  • 6.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:26 am

    so will the undispuited chokers of Super rugby choke this weekend?

  • 7.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:35 am

    It’s true, as much as the WP fans want it badly, the Sharks have the stronger team.
    Nothing to lose, lets just go out there and play.

    I suspect it will be closer than some people think.

  • 8.assagai: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:36 am

    what all this ridiculous blowing smoke up Sharks backsides WP will smack em silly in their own guppy tank long as Coetsee plays Groom and Schreuder at half back and not Catrakillis

    Pietersen, Vd Heever, De Allende, De Jongh, Habana, Schreuder, Groom, Vermeulen, Armand, Fourie, Etzebeth, Steenkamp, Malherbe, Ntubeni, Carstens

    Kitchoff, Harris, Sinclair, Holmes, Aplon, Brache, Catrakillis and we take em out no sweat

  • 9.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:45 am

    @poppa69-6: If the guppies manage to stumble their way to a choke this weekend, it will be a choke on the scale never seen before…..

    Their ‘Doc du Plessis’ alone has more Bok caps than the combined age of our (WP’s) entire front row. Whatever way the Sharks are going to try slice it and dice it – our front row, while extremely talented and who will be a thorn in the side of the guppies and others in years to come, currently boasts a combined age of 62……Imagine losing at home to that? ;)

    But will our kids put up a huge fight…….as an over confident Sharks team is a Sharks team that often falls short. And they can’t BUT believe all the hype, it’s been 24/7 for 2 weeks already. JPP, Lambie is King, Keegan to win SARU player of the year etc…. :)

    The WP for once, really do have NOTHING to lose, but plenty to gain.

  • 10.assagai: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:46 am

    Sharks are chicken check how they run soon as a woman calls them out for polluting the place out they run for nice amenable comfort zones to feel nice and sensitive at home in. Just like their supporters so are their players all smug and upperty holier than bloody thou. WP coming to get you,., you better run duck and hide for cover.

  • 11.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 06:54 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-9: as we seen with Etzebeth and Kolisi, young guys can step up when required… pressure more so on the experienced sharks, but that experience may be the telling difference come a tight game..
    may even watch this game myself, just for sh!ts and giggles :D

  • 12.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:16 am

    @poppa69-11: You won’t be disappointed :) It is apparently going to be a huge lesson in pain for my WP kiddies (according to all the pundits, critics, journos, Guppy affiliated persons and neutrals…) And they say this with reason.

    If the guppies don’t manage to put 20 points over the WP boys – it’s a fail ;)

  • 13.gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:18 am

    I don’t buy this mock humbleness from the brokbacks.

    It’s unnatural.

    This year is your year.

  • 14.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:20 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-12: I see Nikita tried her own version of

    Black and White

    Dynomite..

    boom!

  • 15.BokkeYouBeauties: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:21 am

    The fairytale result here wud be a WP win, a sharks win wud only be viewed as a formallity, bragging rights for winning a fight against a handicap kid. All the pressure on the sharks to do the business. Biggest victory here is if all the bokkies leave the field unscathed

  • 16.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:21 am

    Another campaign ends in tears
    And all the cheers will turn to jeers
    When it mattered on the pitch
    They capitulated like a Pollsmoor *****

    Every year we hear their hope
    But they end up picking up the shower soap
    The brokeback challenge will crash and burn
    But next year they will get another turn

    We’ll play them like a marionette
    And add another trophy to our cabinet
    Through the posts a ball makes its final arc
    And once again its the year of the Shark.

    :) :)

  • 17.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:24 am

    @gunther-13: In January its always their year.

    @poppa69-14: Its “BOOM!!” dipshit. Get with it.

  • 18.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:31 am

    @trupisero-17: nah, Ive seen the sharks in finals, its barely a clap let alone a boom..

    or do you need it that loud because you hearing is going?

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:33 am

    @assagai-10:
    the comical irony of it all was that the sharkies were in fact ‘poluting’ up the place, with all their natal man boy love association members in a fine tizz…until the penny dropped.
    :lol:

  • 20.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:36 am

    @BokkeYouBeauties-15:
    true.
    we’re about 16 day out from the next test.

  • 21.cane: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:40 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-19:

    And when the WeePees,
    have chased away the last Sharkie.

    Then they start on you,
    (most of your kind have already departed),

    Then me……………………………

    ……………………………………………………..and me.

  • 22.gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:43 am

    @cane-21:

    Indeed.

    A brokback reign of terror.

  • 23.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:45 am

    As a sharks supporter, I think that the Province side have had a very good last 12 months.
    Top Super Side after the round robins, and a very good currie cup.
    Forget whose injured, the team that Province are sending to Durban are good players.

    Should be an entertaining game, and one Im hoping the Sharks win, but I dont predict a massacre like some are.

  • 24.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:46 am

    @poppa69-18: How them Blues going?

    Whats the story with the so called “departed” sharks on here? Missed it. Brief summary?

  • 25.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:48 am

    @gunther-22: Gatte teen die muur, hier kom WP

  • 26.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:50 am

    @trupisero-24: blues not looking great tbh… will be a hard season next year with a young team…

    Nikita mentioned to Puma and SL that sharks fans were “poluting” (sic) the site.. they left soon after… shame because Puma is one of the few gentlemen here :D

    will find the thread and post a link

  • 27.W.P: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:51 am

    D@mn that’s a sheet load of injuries! When I look at it now WP have over performed taking all the injuries into account! Sharks definitely overwhelming favourites but as they say in the WC………………PROOOOOOOOVIIIIIIIIIINCE!!!!!!

  • 28.cane: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:53 am

    @poppa69-26:

    Puma, Sharks lover and Sharkgirl all good value.

    I’m Sorry to see them hounded out.

  • 29.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:54 am

    trupi

    [url=http://keo.co.za/2012/10/22/super-sharks-will-win-currie-cup/comment-page-7/#comments]this be it here[/url]

  • 30.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:55 am

    keo.co.za/2012/10/22/super-sharks-will-win-currie-cup/comment-page-7/

  • 31.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:56 am

    @cane-21:
    hehehe
    farkem caner, i’ve got gravel in my guts and spit in my eyes…. limp wristed hysterics dont scare me.. :grin:

  • 32.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 07:58 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-31: them bull horns and brannies and coke and you grow a pair huh bakkies? :D

  • 33.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:05 am

    @poppa69-30: Jeepers, Puma and SL had a bit of a hissy fit…almost brokeback style.

    HTFU mofos!

    Fark sakes, its not as if “polluting” the site has been the worst insult on here?

  • 34.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:05 am

    Not too bothered with Currie Cup but I must admit it would be sweet to get 1 over the Sharks after what they’ve done to us during the season.

    Gaan m0ertoe moeilik is maar die WP span vertoon beter met rug teen die muur so daar is hoop.

  • 35.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:07 am

    @poppa69-32: Its the Jurie Els cds

  • 36.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:08 am

    @trupisero-33:

    Exactly! Jeez people have been called all sorts of things. Do you see Poppa rushing off. He has taken most of the insults. He stands firm. It is so easy to rush off in a tizz. Very childish in my opinion…

  • 37.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:09 am

    @trupisero-33: yeah, normally that wouldnt worry Puma, so not sure if I missed anything else… but going back through the thread it appears that was why..

  • 38.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:09 am

    @wpstormerbok-34: You know you want it. You really do.

    En as die WP naby is is dit die ander span met hul gatte teen die muur ;)

  • 39.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:10 am

    @poppa69-32:
    good morning to you too, poppa.

    the best thing you can give a growing boy is a good solid hiding, from time to time.
    i have tasted the wrong end of a sjambok and believe me… when you get that a few times… then words become just that… words…

    the balls take care of themselves :grin:

  • 40.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:11 am

    @trupisero-35: :lol: can just picture bakkies now, beer gut, khaki shorts and sandals.. :D

    @Gumboots-36: its my own idiocy that has me leave at times Bill.. :lol: but then, the medication helps :wink: hoe gaan dit?

  • 41.WP-Forever: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:11 am

    @trupisero-33:

    It was bizarre…

  • 42.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:11 am

    @poppa69-37:

    Hey Poppa! You good bud?

  • 43.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:13 am

    @poppa69-40:

    Really good mate! I have also read the posts and actually arrived when the houdini act took place. Actually confused with ‘polute’ causing a cleansing. :lol:

  • 44.WP-Forever: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:14 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-39:

    “I have tasted the wrong end of a sjambok” – Bakkies, daai stelling kan op meer as een manier geïnterpreteer word…

    :lol:

  • 45.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:14 am

    @Gumboots-42: always mate… weather is warming up here, girls are wearing less, only disappointing thing is there isnt much rugby on.. and you?

  • 46.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:16 am

    @Gumboots-36: I think its purely because Pops is a *********.
    @poppa69-40: Bright blue Crocs, not sandals. Its Skop thats got the Jerusalem GTs.

  • 47.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:16 am

    Pressure pushing down on me
    Pressing down on you no man ask for
    Under pressure – that burns a building down
    Splits a family in two
    Puts people on streets
    Um ba ba be
    Um ba ba be
    De day da
    Ee day da – that’s o.k.

    Can’t we give ourselves one more chance
    Why can’t we give love that one more chance
    Why can’t we give love give love give love give love
    give love give love give love give love give love
    ‘Cause love’s such an old fashioned word
    And love dares you to care for
    The people on the edge of the Night
    And love dares you to change our way of
    Caring about ourselves
    This is our last dance
    This is our last dance
    This is ourselves
    Under pressure
    Under pressure
    Pressure

  • 48.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:17 am

    @Gumboots-43: :lol: never thought of it that way, very clever… you giving your team a chance this weekend?
    I think Auckland can upset Canterbury, well am hoping.. so maybe a double whammy for the good guys?

  • 49.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:18 am

    @poppa69-45:

    This time of the year is hectic mate! Currie Cup rugby not what it used to be, so looking forward to EOYT. Enjoying the cricket though. David Miller (Yorkshire) has been kind enough to get me some tickets in the box – so been watching a bit of cricket…

  • 50.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    24 Oct 2012, 08:18 am

    @poppa69-40:
    :lol:
    nothing but a solid piece of meat here, boet.

    @WP-Forever-44:
    :lol:
    sies man

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