WP keen to cut out mistakes

Chris van Zyl of Western Province during the Western Province morning training session. Photo by: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Chris van Zyl of Western Province during the Western Province morning training session. Photo by: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Published Sep 21, 2016

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Western Province lock Jan de Klerk believes that his side can bag another much-needed Currie Cup win against Griquas on Friday, but he knows that Province are going to have to keep errors to an absolute minimum in Kimberley.

In their 31-23 victory over the Pumas last week, Province conceded quite a few penalties, especially on attack, and their failure to hold onto the ball first half meant that the Pumas were still very much in the game at half time (10-6 to WP).

But this cannot happen against the fourth-placed Griquas, and De Klerk also said that WP will have to give away fewer penalties at the scrums.

“If we look at the past few games, we’re going to have to limit out mistakes. We have to look at our penalties. I mean the past few weeks if you look at our games against the Cheetahs and the Lions, we conceded too many penalties at scrum time and we were offside.

“It is something we’re working on. Especially when we face Griquas on Friday night. It is going to be a tough game and we’re going to be tired. And you have to focus on doing things right,” De Klerk said.

After a few line-out issues against the Golden Lions two weeks ago, where hookers Michael Willemse and Neil Rautenbach struggled to find their jumpers and another odd throw-in at the set-piece at the weekend, De Klerk said that the team had also done some work in this department.

He also emphasised the forwards battle as a crucial one.

“I think we are preparing well on our line-outs and our movements and so on. I have to say the guys are more focused. Every match is important. We are just focusing on this game right now. And especially the forwards, we are going to have to do our part to give some good ball to the backs. It is definitely going to start up front on Friday. We have to be more ruthless.”

Province forwards coach Russell Winter said on Monday that the conditions in Kimberley are going to make the match particularly tough, but De Klerk, Man of the Match at Newlands this past weekend, assured fans that Province will be ready for the contest.

“The conditions are going to be different, but it’s no excuse, we’re professional athletes. It is going to be a mental switch, but I think we will be ready. The guys are focused and we said we were grateful for the win on Saturday, but that’s not where it ends.”

The Star

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