Coach Allister Coetzee was in a happy mood in the post match press conference, happy with a four point win that kept Western Province in the race for the play offs. It must be said, this is now the third time the I have met him and he is one of the nicest coaches around, and its a pleasure talking to him.
Asked about the game, “Fortunately we got off to a good start , I think we made a lot less errors than the Sharks, in that regard there was a bit of accuracy in our execution, it’s just again, when we in territory to round off we let it slip a bit , but I’m very pleased with our set pieces, the scrums went well and the lineouts were also good. It was not a good game, but we were efficient, especially the pack, that is where I thought the Sharks would target us because of the youngsters, but we stood up well.”
The obvious question on everybodies lips was the injuries, and he jokingly said that he will in future declare the players fit. “Catrakilis should be back this week, and Nic Groom will also be available. Heinrich Steyl broke his leg unfortunately, its traumatic injuries and that is frustrating, it’s big injuries. Dewaldt Duvenhage is also limping and it looks like the same ankle injury that kept him out earlier in the season. We will assess on Monday and fight for another week.”
Asked about whether his team was the hungrier on the day, especially in a big match, “In any competition, whether you blood youngsters or you play with seasoned players, Currie Cup exposes whether you have fight in you or not. You don’t give up, whether you are out of the competition or not. That’s what made this victory so special, the youngsters have shown fight for most of the competition. The games that we have lost, have lost by only 10 points, with the Cheetahs win of 14 points being the biggest, and there we conceded that last try in the end. With any young team, they will learn lessons, but definitely, it was proven against Griquas away that this team has a heluva lot of fight.
Asked about the remaining fixtures and qualifying for the semi finals, “It’s going to be tough, but we have our destiny in our own hands. We have to win the next two matches to be involved in the play offs and that’s how we prepare. Whoever is available and standing, we put our heads down.”
Coetzee continued by saying how great the Currie Cup is for blooding youngsters, “One of our objectives was to blood youngsters and create depth for Super 15 next year and also simultaneously try and win and do well, but that objective, I know now, who can play next year for the Stormers, that’s for sure. We have played more than 15 Under 21’s throughout the season up until now, from that perspective, I am very pleased where we are now.”
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Top man Mr Coetzee, I agree with you, he is one of the nicest okes around.
WP JOU LEKKA DING
Off course he would be happy…a rookie team beating a experienced Sharks team in the tank… 😈
So sad the news about young Heinrich Steyl.
In the move that led to his injury, he almost burnt Mvovo on the outside, showing tremendous pace with ball in hand. I guess he’ll never be able to run that quickly ever again.
@beet (Comment 4) : YEah , i was gutted for the kid, someone on the site(could have been you) mentioned he is worth watching and I was excited to see him play.That was a horrible injury.
Regardless of whether they won or lost, Province is going to be in a much better position come Super 15 time than the Sharks. Can’t believe how our coaches squandered the opportunities offered by this Currie Cup to develop depth in the positions in which we are lacking… 🙄
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 5) :
That’s the third leg break I have seen at the tank.. horrible!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : You bring some bad voodoo ! The pain in the kids face in the replay, eish man, it wasnt nice.
No mention of Plumtree’s comments?
Someone mentioned a while ago how he answered some question with an answer along the lines of “there are a few things (or players) we need to look at or work on” or something along those lines.
Has any journo the following week asked him what they looked at or worked on because everything seems to have remained the same?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : Plum does not allow that type of questions…he controls the press conference…just wish he could be as dominant when it come to the rugby side…
@Culling Song (Comment 6) : I was going to say exactly the same thing! Coaches have squandered a vital opportunity to blood some young backline players. I mean it’s the Currie Cup during a World Cup year, FFS, the spotlight is off our coaches, take some risks!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) :
Plum’s comments going live at 10am..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) : 😉
“We have played more than 15 Under 21?s throughout the season up until now, from that perspective, I am very pleased where we are now.” 😎 😯
@wpw (Comment 14) :
Good place to be..
Wish we could say the same..
@wpw (Comment 14) : AI JA, REK JOU BEK…JY MAG MAAR !!! 😆
😆
I’ll also be happy if my “Varsity Cup” team beat the current CC champs
Damn, that poor kid! Like Claytie said u could see the agony – not nice! I actually thought he’d broken both by the way it looked!
Coetzee continued by saying how great the Currie Cup is for blooding youngsters, “One of our objectives was to blood youngsters and create depth for Super 15 next year and also simultaneously try and win and do well, but that objective, I know now, who can play next year for the Stormers, that’s for sure. We have played more than 15 Under 21?s throughout the season up until now, from that perspective, I am very pleased where we are now.”
WP have used this season well, the Sharks haven’t. This is true irrespective of who makes the semis or wins the cup.
@Big Fish (Comment 19) :
Province stand a much better chance in next year’s Super 15 than any other South African team..
Well done to WP, their fans and Alister. I would actually like to see WP win the CC from this position….now that would really be an achievement.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 20) : I have been trying to decide how to work a trip to the US and a trip to SA to see some SR into my June/July holiday period.
The performance thusfar is making my decision a WHOLE lot easier.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) :
Stay in the US? 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : Yip. 😆
I was so f*#????n excited when I realised I would be able to attend a live SR game for the 1st time since the 2007 final, now I am not sure I want to attend one. 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 24) :
I can only imagine..
Thinking of selling my press pass, not sure if I will get a willing buyer at this stage?? 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 25) : 😆
You can use my season tickets if you get a buyer. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 25) :Slow down Boys! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
Do you have a taker for your tickets for the Lions game?
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 28) : I don’t think so. You want them? You would just have to pick them up in PTN.
I can confirm in the next day or 2.
Kette’s mom flys back from NZ on the 17th Oct. So I believe they WILL be free.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) :
I would love to use them, if you don’t mind?
And I can pick them up anywhere..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 30) : cool will?let you know.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) :
Thanx boet..
Coetzee has done really well with the grooming of youngsters this year, hope he stays on, Rassie for bok coach!
@molly (Comment 33) : Eish, Rassie not so much a coach as he is a technical guru.Also you think PDivvy is bad in a press conference…
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 34) : ag, I’m not that too worried about Rass, just really want AC to stay on with us.