WP on Saturday went top of the Currie Cup standings after week 2 by going 2 wins from 2 games.
Alistair Coetzees charges beat John Mitchells Lions 32-0 at Newlands, a victory that will give the young squad a bit of confidence going into the latter rounds as the Lions are still known as one of the top 5 Currie Cup teams.
The cape pack led by captain Anton Van Zyl and Tiaan Liebenberg were too strong for the men for Jozi and gave the backs enough good ball to have a field day with but the backs were unable to breach a defence that was really trying their best to keep the score down.
Willem de Waals accurate boot was once again the factor that kept the scoreboard ticking over on the WP side , De Waal scoring 5 penalties and 2 conversions.
In the backline the midfield partnership of Paul Bosch and Tim Whitehead looks like given time it could develop into something special, Bosch distributing well and getting over the advantage line regularly and Whitehead putting in some impressive hits defensively.
Of the forwards Pieter Louw was the pick of the bunch, carrying the ball strongly and being almost omnipresent on defence.Saturdays performance must have been his finest in the blue and white hoops and he deservedly picked up a try and man of the match award for his efforts.
What must be of concern to Coach Coetzee was the inability of his team to secure an important bonus point when having such clear dominance over an opposing team and its something he and backline coach Robbie Fleck will have to think long and hard about.
Tries: Pieter Louw, Conrad Jantjes, Pieter Myburgh; Conversions: Willem de Waal; Penalties: Willem de Waal (5).
And this coming weekend it will be 3 from 3. Big deal
The Sharks will be right on your asses by the end of it
But more seriously, Well done WP
The missing bonus point is going to bite WP big time
Province are looking good and Willem De Waal is in frightening form with the boot, we cannot afford penalties at the set piece… They are looking good discipline wise too and in the centres Tim Whitehead asks alot of questions, a special playmaker… Sharks VS Province will be a good game, and at this stage I can’t predict a winner… The Sharks are coming in to good form, whilst Province look a bit more settled… It is early stages in the tournament, but I think both the Sharks and Province seem the most dangerous at the moment, The Sharks however look a bit leaky on defence, and defence needs to be addressed urgently and efficiently… We can’t afford a tit for tat affair against Province as they seem a bit more polished at this stage…
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 3) : What happened to ”Go Bulls”
Really loving the centre’s, Bosch looks like he could be great. So good on defence.
Going to blame the lack of penetration on De Waal only wanting to kick.
Must also say, I’ve been really impressed with Pieter Louw, he’s really improved in the last year or 2.
Let’s not get carried away hey guys!! We still have to fact the Sharks, Bulls and Griquas twice!!
The Sharks looked VERY good on Saturday so they’ll be hard to beat!!
@wpw (Comment 8) : Hopefully commenting on posts after mine, thought mine was quite objective…
Really like wp but they need to give this lionel cronje fellow a go.
they need wings tthough but what I,ll never understand is why rassie let f.hougard go to the bulls and where does nic koster fit in the wp plans .ha funny the sharks can,t find talent and wp have way to much but well done province the currie cup is yours
@molly (Comment 7) : Yep, me too, seems a good down to earth chap too.He was massive on Saturday
@zvision10 (Comment 10) : Rassie didn’t let Hougaard go, he wanted to leave, he had a very good offer from WP but did not want to stay.
@molly (Comment 7) :
How good was Hoffman when he came on??
The guy can step too!!
@zvision10 (Comment 10) :
Hougaard left while he was an age group player and we had a few Bok scrumhalves at the time.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 12) : Serious? Thats the first time I’ve heard that. Suppose playing under Fourie is kind of a big deal. Otherwise he’d be learning from the Rickstar.
@molly (Comment 15) :
Didn’t he leave while Bolla was first choice??
@Jarson (Comment 6) : How you mean?
rugby is a business if u want the best talent you got to pay .If he was still there after high school then he wanted to be in the wp system ,Rassie just doesn,t trust young talent or he can,t spot the future superstars ,raun pienaar and bismark dupliess also left free state while he was coach but WP are doing well so his good ,rassie myt be the next springbok coach
What a bonus but almost a shame to have 2 qaulity and exciting hookers in one team…Tiaan Liebenberg plays he’s hart out every game a bit chirpy but thats part of the package and then you get poor old Deon Fourie dying to get game time and looking more exciting each time he comes onto the field.
Almost the same problem at the sharks now with Burden playing such good rugby!
Well done WP great game
Oh and enjoy the top place we will be there to take over in just a weeks time
@Volstruis (Comment 19) : Deon Fourie is still a baby,hes time will come.Extremely quick for a prop too,I think one of the quicker stormers players over 40m