WP face tough Griquas test

New Western Province coach John Dobson chats to media during the 2015 Absa Currie Cup press conference for Western Province coach John Dobson at the Belville HPC, Cape Town on 6 July 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

New Western Province coach John Dobson chats to media during the 2015 Absa Currie Cup press conference for Western Province coach John Dobson at the Belville HPC, Cape Town on 6 July 2015 ©Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Published Aug 7, 2015

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New Western Province coach John Dobson joked that his doctor may have to prescribe something for the nerves ahead of his team’s Currie Cup opener against Griquas.

Dobson has swiftly made his way up the WP ranks over the last few years, winning three titles with the Province Under-21s and the Vodacom Cup side. However, the former hooker describes this afternoon’s match in Kimberley as the biggest one of his career, because “it is a dream come true.

“I grew up watching this team, so to coach the blue-and-white stripes ... I have done a couple of Under-21 finals and a few Vodacom Cup finals, but this is the biggest game of my career,” he said.

Dobson will be under a lot of pressure because WP are the defending champions after they beat the Lions in last year’s dramatic final.

“You can’t go and lose your first game, and then people will go ‘what were you guys thinking?’. So the doc is going to prescribe something (for the nerves)!”

According to Dobson, the Currie Cup is certainly going to be lot more open this year following a poor Super Rugby campaign for South Africa’s other rugby powerhouses, the Bulls and the Sharks. But the smaller unions like Griquas and the Pumas will also be in contention.

“The Lions were very good last year, but I think this year it’s going to be a bit different, because the Bulls and the Sharks are both looking at the Currie Cup as a Super Rugby redemption,” Dobson said.

“The Bulls haven’t made a Currie Cup final for six or seven years, and that is a grotesque under-achievement for a union like that. And Franco (Smith) is doing a great job at the Cheetahs.

“It’s going to be a lot tougher than last season where there were two clear bolters. It’s a really open Currie Cup.”

Griquas: Gouws Prinsloo, Ederies Arendse, Ruhan Nel, Michael van der Spuy, Ntabeni Dukisa, Riaan Viljoen, Tian Meyer (capt), Carel Greeff, Nardus van der Walt, RJ Liebenberg, Hugo Kloppers, Jonathan Adendorf, Ewald van der Westhuizen, AJ le Roux, Danie Mienie. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Stephan Kotze, Jaco Nepgen, Leon Karemaker, Rudi van Rooyen, Jacquin Jansen, Ngcobo Sandile.

Western Province: Cheslin Kolbe, Dillyn Leyds, Juan de Jongh (capt), Jaco Taute, Seabelo Senatla, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Nizaam Carr, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Rynhardt Elstadt, Ruan Botha, Jean Kleyn, Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Oli Kebble. Replacements: Marius Fourie, Alistair Vermaak, Chris van Zyl, Chris Cloete, Jano Vermaak, Kurt Coleman, Johnny Kotze, Charlie van Jaarsveld. - The Star

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