Allister Coetzee has praised the attitude of his DHL Western Province players after the defending champions’ convincing 25-19 Absa Currie Cup win over the Sharks at DHL Newlands.
The hosts built on their deserved 15-0 half-time lead to record their third win of the 2013 season on Saturday, despite conceding three second-half tries to the Sharks.
WP coach Coetzee told www.wprugby.com: “Well done to the players, we’re extremely pleased with how they pitched up tonight. Their attitude was fantastic.
“Our set-piece functioned well, we said all week it was an area where we needed to win our ball and put them under pressure on their own ball, but I think we were also really good at the breakdown. They’ve got good stealers in Jean Deysel, Keegan Daniel and Jacques Botes… and we were good there (too).
“It’s important to win (your) home games,” added Coetzee, “we’ve lost one game at DHL Newlands this year (in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup), so it was a pleasing win for us.”
WP’s win, their third of the season – to go with two draws, sees them top the log with 16 points at the end of the first round of Currie Cup league action. (See a photo gallery HERE!)
Coetzee, however, refused to rest on his team’s mid-season laurels, adding: “This competition is a dog-fight. We’re unbeaten, yet we’re on 16 points (on the log), with the Sharks behind us on 15. It shows how close it is and, at the end of the day, you need to win all your games – starting, like I said, with those home games.
“It’s pleasing to finish the first round unbeaten, but you need to keep on going,” said Coetzee, “that’s what this competition is all about – you need to make sure you win every weekend.”
Province scored three excellent tries – two in the first half, by outside centre Juan de Jongh and left-wing Cheslin Kolbe, with fullback Gio Aplon scoring a memorable second-half try to seal the victory.
However, WP were not able to secure that elusive fourth try and Coetzee admitted: “We asked a lot of questions with ball in hand, at times it’s also about the bounce of the ball. But there is intent and it’s something you need to work on.
“The players can see the opportunities, but it’s almost like they’re a bit over-eager. I’m not too worried about that and we all need to be patient – both players and coaches… the more questions we ask on attack, the better and the more opportunities we create the more we will put ourselves in a position to score four tries.
“But I think we’re ticking more and more boxes every week (in our game) and that’s very important – and pleasing – to me than scoring four tries.”
On the topic of WP’s continued improvement this season, skipper Deon Fourie agreed with his coach, adding: “There’s certainly more answers than questions in our game (at the moment).
“In terms of not making that last pass at times, it’s something that also bothered us during Super Rugby and, yes, it’s frustrating – especially as you know that you need just one (more) try to get that extra point, but we’re happy with the win and there’s always something to work on.”
Province will travel to Pretoria next weekend to take on the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (on Saturday, September 14 – kick-off 17h05).
