Sponsored Links:
ETIENNE ROTHBART
If success is measured against the number of trophies won, Western Province rugby has failed, senior provincial coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday.
If success is measured against the number of trophies won, Western Province rugby has failed, senior provincial coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday.
“If one measures success by trophies, then we were not successful,” he told reporters in Cape Town.
“In two seasons now we just couldn't get over the last hurdle. I'm taking it on the chin.”
Province last won the Currie Cup in 2001. But Erasmus, who served as the Springboks' World Cup technical consultant, said Province had been creating a winning habit.
“We created a winning habit by getting into Super Rugby and Currie Cup semifinals and finals. I won't say we are going backward.”
Western Province, by virtue of being the biggest union the country, have by far the biggest pool of players, from the junior to the senior ranks.
In the past decade, WP teams have won numerous age-group events, national club championships and university tournaments, but have failed to win any of the prestigious tournaments such as Currie Cup or Super Rugby.
Currie Cup coach Allister Coetzee said he and the players were “hurting” after they were dumped out of the competition by the Golden Lions at the weekend.
“We're all hurting, not only the team management but the player group as well. But the match against the Lions didn't go as planned,” Coetzee said.
“I know people will point out that we had all those Springboks back, but as you saw the presence of Springboks don't guarantee success. It's a setback, but I'm still confident in the future. There's been a big improvement in terms of developing leadership and the mix of players.
“I'm under contract at Western Province until the end of 2012 and still want to win silverware with this team.”
Erasmus confirmed that Springbok centre Jaque Fourie will join Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights. Fourie will start playing in Japan from November and will remain there until the end of the season, which could be around March, depending on if the Knights reach the play-offs.
Fourie will then return to the Stormers for Super Rugby duty, along with flyhalf Peter Grant who is also playing in Japan.
Apart from Gerhard van den Heever, the Blue Bulls utility back, Province have not made any other signings, but are still in the process of talking to Joe Pietersen who they released to French club Bayonne last year. – Sapa
|
|
willie loots, wrote
We need a proper tight 5 but we spent money on a light weight wing in Habana...Please, how stupid can you be. Mind you...province mangement can!
BlouBos, wrote
Everybody is singing hail Rassie and hail Alister and yet nobody notice that they are a bunch of useless idiot with nothing to sow for there success. Keep on with them and there will be another decade without trophies.
mot, wrote
This proves that Alister can not be the next springbok coach and Schalk can not be the next Captain
Confucius, wrote
It's amazing how money makes our local boys do their own "pot of gold rainbow search" in other provinces and overseas clubs and then proudly announce that they are still local at heart. Like most prostitutes claiming that "I am only doing this to feed the children." Yeh right.....
Andre, wrote
Coming from a management team who just let Sadie and Engelbrecht slip?? Why are they not looking at better signings in the tight five or are the share holders too tight? Looking at the Bulls signings Rassie can forget about any trophies for the next ten years, and that is only the Bulls , imagine what the Lions are planning, if you are not aggressively investing in a big, aggressive tight five and retaining good footballers you are doomed.
Anonymous, wrote
The WP problems are not that easy to identify. Yes, they reach Finals, yes they have exciting backs and good forwards, yes they have a good coaching structure, yes they have a large pool of players, yet still no silverware. The Sharks academy has been mentioned as one of the differences, do you want to see a WP team full of imported players ? As a Sharks supporter I am not happy with that situation, we are buying talent not nurturing the local youngsters. Maybe the solution is a couple of world-class flyhalves. Forwards seem to be a dime a dozen in SA and the current WP forwards are at least as good as the other unions.
Davo the Magnificent, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
I agree! The problem is not in the backs but in the forwards especially the tight five. The backs can't do much without front foot ball. It is all good and well signing Van Den Heever and negotiating with Joe Pietersen but our emphasis should be on securing one or two world class tight forwards!
naz, wrote
we breed them, raise and train them and then we let them go and thats why our cabinet is al over the rugby world but at home. Why we let go of Joe in the first place is still a mystery and dont even think twice of getting him back cos he is a genuine foorballer and so is Sadie and Engelbrecht whom we also let go. Maybe our management should have a good look at them self and they'll know why our cabinet is still emty
peter, wrote
part of the problem is losing all our good youngsters to other provinces. The Sharks Academy is way ahead of our academy. They are hunting talent from a young age and we are fast asleep. Province development needs a wake-up call.
Anonymous, wrote
Strengthen your tight five WP & Stormers if you want to land trophies. You will be good enough to reach the play-offs, but that's where it ends. get quality amongst your tight 5.
Blesbok, wrote
"dream team".... "best side"... with all the so called stars nogal - ja right - dream on mountain goats
Showing items 1 - 12 of 12
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Services
Buying a car has never been easy. Motoring.co.za contains a large database of car listings with a user friendly search.
Start searching today »
Business Directory
We like to make your life easier
Mobile
Browse IOL on your phone at m.iol.co.za.
Newsletters
Subscribe to our newsletters. News delivered to your inbox!
Comment Guidelines