Western Province coach John Dobson says that the team’s 34-27 Currie Cup victory over the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday has boosted their confidence, something that the WP mentor believes has been his side’s biggest problem.
It’s understandable that WP were lacking a bit in this department. They bagged their first win against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth last week, after suffering defeat to the Blue Bulls at Loftus and the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands.
“Our biggest issue with this team is confidence. It’s been a horrendous week. The pressure has been enormous. We knew we had the talent but the guys were just used to losing. We lost two, and even against the Kings we weren’t good. So that was about getting confidence and tonight it was a very happy change-room,” Dobson said at the post-match press conference on Saturday night.
The highlight of WP’s victory was the mercurial performance of flyhalf Robert du Preez. The son of Sharks coach Robert, du Preez has struggled somewhat to produce a convincing performance, so much so that Dobson has alternated him and Brandon Thomson in the No 10 jersey.
But in the week leading up to the match Dobson opted to go with Du Preez for their crucial match against the Sharks and brought in Dewaldt Duvenhage to cover both scrumhalf and flyhalf, while Thomson was released to the Under-21 side.
And it turned out to be the right choice.
“I think we probably went the right route. Rob had a good game but there was still a couple of errors. It was a high pressure game and he stood up really well so I’m very pleased with him. Credit to Rob. The guy has had a really tough time. By track record I haven’t backed one of them (Du Preez or Thomson), so he stood up really well,” Dobson said.
When asked what was said at halftime to inspire a better showing from Province in the second half, Dobson joked: “I don’t think Chris (Van Zyl) would describe me at halftime as composed. I told them some of them were busy ending their careers.”
While WP celebrated a much-needed win, they were also dealt a number of injury blows to crucial players. Centre Huw Jones injured his hamstring before kickoff, loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe left the field with an ankle injury, while hooker Scarra Ntubeni suffered the most serious setback when he hurt his Achilles tendon and was stretchered off the field. Loosehead prop Oli Kebble will also be nursing an injury to his hip flexor.
“We have to bear in mind that that was pretty much a Super Rugby pack with a lot of experience, and with ours that’s not the case. To be fair to this team’s defence, by halftime or just around there, both our centres, Notshe, Scarra, Oli Kebble (were not there) the top playmakers in this team,” Dobson said.
“Huw Jones has been the best player this season, Oli Kebble was just about to come and be brilliant, Scarra – we know him and Notsh. So I think to take those guys out and still stand up the way we did in the second half really deserves credit.
“The injuries are significant. I don’t think we’re going to see Scarra in rugby for a long time. About Notsh we’re not sure. Huw could be back next week. I don’t think Oliver (will be back next week). To me Oli Kebble has got the ability to be the best loosehead in the world. Huw Jones has played as a Test player, Scarra was looking to find his feet here and Notshe has come from the Springboks, and to lose that quality is tough.”
Meanwhile, Sharks coach Robert du Preez voiced his disappointment with his team’s performance, but said that he was happy for his son.
“I was very happy for Rob. This is like history repeating itself. Every time I have coached against them he has won, so I’m very happy for him,” Du Preez said.
“I think we had opportunities, but we just couldn’t look after the ball. We got outplayed tonight. We got out-passioned tonight. I thought, especially in the first 20 minutes when they scored quickly against us, we should have done a lot more with the possession that we had.”
WP next face the Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Friday, while the Sharks will host the competition’s only unbeaten side, the Cheetahs.
Cape Times