A forthright DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee pulled no punches after his team’s 24-24 draw against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday night.

The defending champions opened their 2013 Absa Currie Cup title defence with a draw at DHL Newlands, having led 21-9 going into the final quarter.

Afterwards, Coetzee admitted: “It definitely wasn’t the result we wanted – we played against ourselves.

“For me, three things went wrong; our discipline wasn’t good, we gave away 13 penalties – if they had made their kicks they could perhaps have won, so we were lucky in the end.. Secondly, our turnover count was again too big tonight – that’s why I say we played against ourselves.

“Thirdly, and here credit must go to the Blue Bulls, they scrummed particularly well.”

DHL WP still outscored the Bulls by three tries to two, but it was not enough to secure a victory on an opening weekend of 2013 Currie Cup action which saw the Sharks (on Friday) and the Lions (on Saturday) both losing at home to Griquas and the Cheetahs, respectively.

“It’s going to be a tough Absa Currie Cup season – there were about three points in it in all three the games played this weekend,” said Coetzee.

“Last year (this time) we started our campaign with a home loss to the Sharks, so I know that feeling. At least we drew – although, like I said, we were a bit lucky.

“You can never just think you can arrive at DHL Newlands and win your home matches. As the defending champions, the target is on our backs, and we need to be ready for that and work hard. So, in many ways, this was a big wake-up call for us. It was disappointing, as we dropped the ball, but we must learn from it.”

When asked about his team’s performance, WP captain Deon Fourie added: “We made silly mistakes and, personally, I gave away two or three silly penalties myself at crucial times – especially in those last twenty minutes.

“I told the guys afterwards in the changeroom that it’s not just going to happen for us. People won’t just give us the trophy just because we won last year – it’s going to be harder.

“We need to look at ourselves on Monday and refocus and realise that it’s going to be a tough competition, as we can see with all the scores from this first weekend.”

New cap Cheslin Kolbe, who showed some sharp touches on his Absa Currie Cup debut on the left-wing, was caught awkwardly in a tackle and he left the field in the 64th minute.

Speaking about Kolbe’s fitness, coach Coetzee revealed: “We will probably know by tomorrow or Monday. Cheslin wasn’t in a lot of pain, but he (just) wasn’t able to finish the game.”

DHL Western Province will face the Free State Cheetahs at DHL Newlands next Saturday, August 17 (kick-off 19h15), with the Under-19 and Under-21 teams playing in curtain-raisers against the Sharks U19s and U21s, respectively.