WP must address second-half slump

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 18: Bjorn Basson of Blue Bulls during the Absa Currie Cup match between DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands on October 18, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Luigi Bennett/Gallo Images)

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 18: Bjorn Basson of Blue Bulls during the Absa Currie Cup match between DHL Western Province and Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands on October 18, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Luigi Bennett/Gallo Images)

Published Oct 20, 2014

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Western Province’s 31-23 win against the Blue Bulls on Saturday was unconvincing enough to ensure that coach Allister Coetzee will leave no stone unturned in preparation for this week’s Currie Cup final against the Lions.

The same cannot be said for the Joburg outfit. The Lions sent the Sharks to the deep with six torpedoes in a 50-20 romp at Ellis Park on Saturday.

It’s a bit melodramatic to suggest that coach Johan Ackermann might have had to take a baseball bat to a stereo blaring “we are the champions” in the dressing room today. But there’s no doubt that the Lions will be feeling very upbeat after such an emphatic win against the defending champions.

That’s not a problem that WP coach Allister Coetzee would have had to deal with. Two electric tries on the break from fullback Cheslin Kolbe masked an underwhelming final-40 period that Province lost 13-6.

“It’s something we’ve spoken about,” Coetzee said after the semi-final, referring to the trend of second-half slumps. Province have come out firing this season, reaching the half-time break with a lead in nine of 11 matches at an average score of 16-7.

However, the log-leaders have been unable to sustain their dominance in the second half of matches, failing to outscore their opponents in all of the last six matches by an average margin of 11-16.

The Lions led the Sharks 23-3 on Saturday and finished them off 27-17 after the restart. This will keep Province grounded and focused on the task at hand. After all, the Lions are the only team to have beaten the log-leaders this season – excluding a 28-20 reverse against the Sharks suffered by a second-string WP outfit in round 10’s dead-rubber.

Combative inside centre Jaco Taute sat out that loss against the Sharks, and the semi-final, with a rib injury, but it appears that he will be cleared to face his former team in the final.

In Taute’s absence, Michael van der Spuy produced some of his finest rugby to date, manning the No 12 channel to contain Bulls playmaker Handre Pollard and adding his left boot in the kicking game.

Sikhumbuzo Notshe also made the most of a rare chance to play at No 8 after Nizaam Carr left the field early on with a hip injury. Carr was the only player that Coetzee expressed concerns about after the match but sources have confirmed that the Bishops old boy has tested negative for a fracture and is expected to start in the final.

Lions No 8 Warren Whiteley led an imposing back row against the Sharks. Flankers Jaco Kriel and Derick Minnie dominated their rivals and played a decisive role in ensuring continuity on attack and undermining it on defence.

Negating the influence of this unit in the final will be a key objective for Province. Coetzee opted for raw power up front against the Bulls, fielding a quartet of giants who have all packed down at lock in their careers.

But the Province coach may favour athleticism this week, in anticipation of a less structured and more dynamic challenge from the Lions. - Cape Argus

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