Western Province coach Allister Coetzee hopes that Saturday’s victory over the Sharks will generate extra confidence in his ranks for this season’s Currie Cup campaign.
Planet Rugby
The Newlands outfit recorded an impressive 29-15 opening success over the defending champions after Chris Jack’s almost immediate score set them on their way in wet conditions.
But while Coetzee was impressed with his pack’s effort over the weekend, he also paid tribute to the fact they did not attempt an expansive style in the heavy winter rain of Cape Town.
“This win will give us confidence and I’m glad that the team stuck to the gameplan.” he said following the fixture, speaking to SAPA.
“There are areas where we need to improve and one of those areas is kicking but there was an improvement in the second half.
“We have learnt that when it is wet at Newlands you can’t play rugby, you can’t spread it wide.
“We did try to place the ball in the corners and we did try to go wide on the odd occasion.
“It was noticeable that every time Willem de Waal kicked a penalty it lifted the side.
“Our finishing, well, we’ll have to see why we did not round off.
“Now that the first match is out of the way, we will have to focus on the Blue Bulls.”
The hosts were up against a strong forward line-up over the weekend but stood up well with Jack starring behind a fairly inexperience prop duo.
And captain Luke Watson admitted his delight after those in front of him proved to those who label the side as having a soft underbelly that is now not the case.
“For many years now it has been a criticism that the WP tight five was the weak link in the team but today they really fronted up to Sharks,” said the number eight.
“Our two young props (Brok Harris and Wikus Blaauw) have really put their hands up and its been phenomenal to see how they’ve stuck to their guns in the last few Super 14 matches, the British and now the Sharks.”
July 13th, 2009 at 3:32 am
Certainly was a master-stroke of Rassie by getting JAck into the mould… and Tiaan Liebenberg has single-handedly inspired the front-row… however… the self-gratifying toy-toying by the usual WP fans that WP have arrived against a Sharks B side… is bemusing to say the least…
I reckon for the same reason they have a chance against the Bulls too…
Personally I’d love see Kwas make their way through the playoffs this year… that is… before the Kings fiasco takes another turn next season…
July 13th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Loftus is waiting Luke…
Bring your mountain goats (local and imported).
July 13th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Reply to Minora @ 8:00 am:
I think the Bulls will be sooo pissed off with their performance that WP are going to get the full
on Saturday. WP will be on cloud 9 but will come down to earth with a huge thud! 
July 13th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 8:05 am:
Hi JT.
Just depends whether Stegmann is ready.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Reply to Cosa @ 9:04 am:
Hi Cosa, What is you view on Burton Francis – I think he is a great prospect and felt very sorry for him on Saturday – nothing worked for him on the day. Will he be able to get back on the horse right away or will he need time to recover?
July 13th, 2009 at 9:16 am
At least the WP (and Kwas) win has brought a wee bit excitement to this long second tier comp…
July 13th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 3:32 am:
Mujati (injured)
Brits (left)
Bekker (bok duty)
Fondse (injured)
Schalk (banned/Bok duty)
Vermeulen (injured)
Koster (injured)
Hoffman (injured)
Jean (Bok duty/injured)
Des Fountain (injured)
Jantjes (injured)
Bobo (left)
What do you call the WP team?
Like Rassie did earlier this year, Plumtree predictably gave the depth excuse with injuries or Bok duty hampering the team.
Coaches will always bitch about this when they lose.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:17 am
It was pretty much a Sharks Super 14 pack that…
July 13th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 9:09 am:
I do not rate him..
July 13th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:17 am:
Yep pretty much… but without their
first choice front-row…
July 13th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Reply to PietPloos @ 9:22 am:
My only critisism before Saturday was his lack of pace after his knee injury. Saturday was not a good day for him but I will not judge on one bad performance. Will need to see more of him at a higher level.
July 13th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 9:26 am:
hmm 2 bok props starting! Not bad I would say
especially against the “useless” WP front row 
July 13th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Anyway – before I leave (back later)!
PROOOOOOVINCE!!!!
July 13th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 9:26 am:
I only see the hooker out.
Carstens and Jannie DuP both Boks.
July 13th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:38 am:
Smit, Bis, Beast… count again mate…
July 13th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 10:46 am:
Dude, you had two Bok props in there.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:16 am:
Mujati (injured)
Brits (left)
Bekker (bok duty)
Fondse (injured)
Schalk (banned/Bok duty)
Vermeulen (injured)
Koster (injured)
Hoffman (injured)
Jean (Bok duty/injured)
Des Fountain (injured)
Jantjes (injured)
Bobo (left)
July 13th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 11:43 am:
Correct.
As Plum said, they are missing 10 guys, WP is missing 12. Even if you leave out the two that left, missing 10 also.
So the two B-teams played each other.
Only difference is, a lot of the Sharks B-teamers are also Boks especially in the pack.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 11:43 am:
Forget that post…
Reply to Morné @ 11:04 am:
So what… the first choice front-row (and that of the Boks) was not there!
Only Snor deems Carstens a ‘current’ Bok (and at TH nogal
)…
As for the WP list… injury is injury… and players leaving is ‘leaving’… nothing to do with fit Bok’s out by design…
Argue all you want Morne… but a missing first choice front-row and 10/12 axis is HUGE… just to start…
Mujati (injured)-moot
Brits (left)- moot… but Fourie is an awesome prospect
Bekker (bok duty)- mate he’s been replaced by CHRIS JACK!!!!
Fondse (injured)-moot
Schalk (banned/Bok duty)-injured for most season
Vermeulen (injured)-moot
Koster (injured)- moot
Hoffman (injured)- who? moot
Jean (Bok duty/injured)- injured most season
Des Fountain (injured)- moot
Jantjes (injured)- moot… however the most over-rated Bok since Jorrie Muller… not a shade on the pint sized Pietersen
Bobo (left)-moot…
Back to the game… I said congrats to WP… and I’ve also said they (Sharks) have nothing outside of their Boks…
July 13th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 11:57 am:
Moot in your view.
Most of them are first choice players.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Reply to Morné @ 11:59 am:
Well ‘my point’ was a team bereft of first choice players due to Bok call-up… as it is with the Bulls… and not WP…
July 13th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Reply to Morné @ 11:59 am:
Guppies het maar die gewoonte
om suurgat te trek as hulle
op hulle moer kry.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Sharks are definitely lacking in the depth department. I just wonder what has happened with the academy that they have had running for a few season now. It doesn’t seem to be working.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 12:19 pm:
They’re still learning from the masters though. The Bulls.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 12:14 pm:
And a point taken too.
Whether you want to admit it or not, WP is also missing a lot of first choice players.
Who cares what the reasons are?
Point is, both teams would field very different teams if all the players are available to them.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Jus and the Wie pie are noes to talk about getting suurgat about a loss.
July 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Reply to Morné @ 12:30 pm:
Before every season for the last decade – every team know that they will not have their Boks available.
It is the lamest of excuse every year to hear – BUT WE DID NOT HAVE OUR BOKS !!!
It is pathetic of these Union not to PLAN ahead – and make sure that they are competitive when the Boks are on duty.
AHRGGGGGGGggggggggg
Same with INJURIES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF :WTF:
July 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Reply to Morné @ 12:30 pm:
That is what rugby is about, fielding the best team you have on the day, for an entire competition.
You have to plan on not having all players available all the time.
A rugby competition is not a 15-man game, it’s a 45-man squad game
July 13th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Reply to DavidS @ 12:32 pm:
not anymore – we are use to it by now
July 13th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Reply to The Brand @ 12:34 pm:
Which is why we said Rassie should shut it when he piped up with that excuse.
Reply to Ollie @ 12:35 pm:
Indeed.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Reply to JT – http://www.rugby-innsbruck.at @ 12:37 pm:
Same as us….
July 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 12:25 pm:
Quite simply… Plumtree has never played them in until now… choosing to rather play his first choices into the ground… happened all S14… happened all NPC…
July 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:27 pm:
Plum being shown up as a one trick pony?
Suddenly all the guys Dick brought through are wearing thin and Plum seems to be stuck?
July 13th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:27 pm:
Has he had a choice? I have no idea what quality the academy is bringing through, or in what numbers but, if I remember correctly, any players brought in didn’t exactly put up their hands.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Reply to Morné @ 1:30 pm:
Yes he is a one trick Pony when it comes to game-plan… he has not evolved from where he was in the end at Wellington playing exactly the same brand of 10 man rugby… the only thing that has changed is the personel… with Kockott taking over from Piri Weepu (who has only just managed to come back form from a few seasons back)…
As for depth… other than injury… he has never played any of the rising stars like Justin Downey, Mike Rhodes to name but a few…
As for you bringing Dick Muir up… he’s long gone Barrit, Steyn, RP, JPP, Kockott are a product of his era…
July 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
\Reply to Ollie @ 1:36 pm:
Yes he did have a choice… in the first half of the S14 he was playing 15man rugby… this could have been different if he had the foresight to see his stocks weak…
July 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:37 pm:
I think in general, apart from the Bulls, we do not show any faith in our youngsters.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:40 pm:
And for the record… I have never rambled on about Sharks depth… I said at the beginning of the S14 this could be their downfall…
July 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:40 pm:
It’ll be interesting to see how he fixes it. It would be nice to be able to get him in for a Q&A.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
So, has the Free State
(read: Grey College) at
last shut the door on
the Guppies?
Hehehe.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
July 13th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 2:11 pm:
Plenty of top KZN schools in the SA top 20… but rarely do they filter through… not sure the in’s and out’s… but souties emigrating to there being no uni rugby scene is amongst the many…
Reply to Ollie @ 1:48 pm:
Nothing like being forced to build depth/combo’s this CC… early days and one away loss…
July 13th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 2:45 pm:
I see only 14, 20:
FNB Top 20, 23 April 2009
1. Waterkloof
2. Affies, Grey College, Outeniqua
5. KES
6. Paul Roos
7. Marlow
8. Grey High
9. Bishops
10. Paarl Boys’ High
11. Selborne
12. Queen’s College
13. Paarl Gim
14. Glenwood
15. St Andrew’s of Grahamstown
16. Monument
17. Rustenburg
18. Oakdale
19. Centurion
20. Michaelhouse, Die Brandwag of Uitenhage
July 13th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:40 pm:
I see 3 from the Border region in there though, which technically falls under Sharks territory.
July 13th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:40 pm:
Glenwood, Westville, Michaelhouse, Hilton were in the more recent rankings and in that order in KZN too…
The actual national rankings are a complete farce as some regions play more games which count towards how they climb the ladder… and it gets more confusing form there-on…
I mean the only games Westville lost the entire season was to Glenwood… and they were unbeaten… yet some of the top 10 sides lost plenty…
And why there is only 1 Westville player in the Craven Week side is just ludicrous…
July 13th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 4:50 pm:
Jip, technically they do, I suppose.
I just posted the list as general
info, not to score points.