Cape Town – Western Province head coach John Dobson is happy with his team’s opening Currie Cup win over Griquas in Kimberley, but has highlighted a few areas for improvement.
The defending champions recorded a 43-19 win over Griquas at Griqua Park on Friday, having led by 24-7 at half-time.
WP scored three tries in each half, with flying winger Seabelo Senatla coming away with a try double and the visitors’ other tries coming from No 8 Nizaam Carr, right-wing Dillyn Leyds, flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe and skipper Juan de Jongh.
“To open with a bonus point win in Kimberley is as good a result as anything,” said Dobson, who presided over his firstCurrie Cup match on Friday.
“I am happy, but we have a bit to work on.”
Having players sin-binned was not ideal explained Dobson.
“Our discipline was not good at all. (But) it won’t happen again… the fact that we played with 14 men for 20 minutes was not ideal at all.
“I thought our new-look pack did very well. We had a 100% record at line-out time and we scrummed well and I thought the backline looked hungry to play some classic Province rugby.
“I think we can improve a lot, however, another area we need to look at is our defence – we can get off the line a bit quicker I would say.”
In other good news for Dobson and his coaching team, hooker Bongi Mbonambi – who was in doubt during the lead-up to the Griquas clash with a hamstring injury – got through 40 minutes in Kimberley before being replaced by debutant Marius Fourie.
“Bongi gave us a good 40 minutes and Marius acquitted himself well when he came on. We will obviously see on Monday how Bongi has reacted to the match.”
Western Province will host the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands next Saturday (kick-off 3pm), with both the Under-19 and Under-21 teams playing in curtain-raisers beforehand.
ANA