Cape Town – Western Province's chances of victory against the Blue Bulls in Saturday's Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands may rest on their ruthless capacity to convert turn-over possession into match-winning points.
Their capacity to exploit turn-over ball secured Province a top spot on the log but it remained to be seen if it would be enough to survive the cut-throat fare of a knockout match.
The Bulls would arrive in Cape Town on the back of three consecutive victories, the last two being bonus-point wins.
They shrugged off a poor start to the season with performances that suggested they must be regarded as serious contenders for the title. Although they lost twice to Province in the round-robin phase, the memories would have been erased particularly since their last clash was almost seven week ago.
Province have chosen four locks in their pack to bolster their physicality and set-piece capacity.
Coach Allister Coetzee cautioned that the make-up of the pack did not suggest his side would adopt a new playing pattern.
“There is nothing new that we are doing. It's been a well-planned week, and the players who came back this week slotted in nicely,” he said.
“You cannot just be ignorant about it and say 'we're going to play this way'. You have the ball 50 percent of the time and they have 50 percent of the ball and it's how best possible you will utilise their possession.
“We know it will be a physical battle and mauling is one of their big platforms.”
In the run up to the match, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke had not shed much light on how they planned to mount their challenge and played down the impact match winner Handre Pollard could have on the outcome.
“This match will not be won by individuals, but by a mighty team effort,” said Ludeke.
“Western Province must be favourites and rightly so. They have played great rugby this season and deservedly are hosting a semi-final. We lost to them twice in this competition so are under no illusion on the magnitude of our challenge.
“That said we are certainly not travelling down south to go and surrender. We are going there to win and get into the final.”
In recent seasons, some of the most successful Newlands outfits had been undone by kicking tactics which created havoc in their usually reliable defence structures.
Province's defence had been vulnerable against grubber and chip kicks and the Bulls' intelligence would have picked up on it going into the match.
However, it could backfire miserably given the counter-attacking ability of Province trio Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla and Kobus van Wyk.
The Bulls had the luxury of fielding two polished pivots although Pollard would line-up at inside centre, with Jacques-Louis Potgieter at half-back. During the match, Pollard could slot into the flyhalf berth and pose a danger since he was in devastating form in that position for the Springboks against the All Blacks recently.
Moreover, he offered great depth with his field kicking which could help the Bulls exit their half with the minimum of effort.
If Province win they would host next week's final. If the Bulls win they would be the away team, having finished fourth on the log.– Sapa