Cape Town – The Pumas ran Western Province close in the end but it was not enough to deny them a bonus-point victory at a chilly Newlands on Saturday.
Province skipper Chris van Zyl said there was a measure of desperation in the way his team went about their business of keeping their Currie Cup play-off hopes alive with a 31-23 bonus-point victory.
“I wouldn’t say we were happy with this performance but we’ll take the five points and move on,” said the Province lock. “We’ve got a very important game next week, so we’re looking forward to that.
“The Pumas, just like us, were very desperate to win this one. We knew it will be tough but we were not as clinical as we could be.
“Going forward, that’s something, we have to rectify.
“Next Friday night we’re up against Griquas in Kimberley and it’s never an easy match there.
“At this point in time, you have to take it game by game to reach the semifinals but you have to keep winning matches.”
Namibian international Renaldo Bothma who led the never-say-die Pumas was philosophical afterwards.
“I must say, I’m a lot more pleased tonight (despite the defeat). I think the boys played a fair bit of rugby tonight,” said Bothma.
“This is a very inexperienced side and I think their confidence is growing. You could see that tonight when we scored a couple of spectacular tries.
“This team is going to keep on building, week by week. Success will come to this side in the future.
“We’ve got the Cheetahs next week, in Nelspruit. So that’s going to be a tough encounter again but one we’re really looking forward to playing a good brand of rugby.”
The ‘Man of the Match’, Province lock Johannes de Klerk felt the team coped well enough with the physical approach of the visiting Pumas.
“We put up a good performance but slacked a bit at the end,” said De Klerk.
“The Pumas are a physical side and came out guns blazing. We’re just happy to get away with a win and four tries.
“Our coach John Dobson said we need to win each of the remaining games with a bonus point if we want to play semifinals.”
– ANA