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DHL WP out for redemption

PUBLISHED: August 16, 2016


DHL Western Province will be looking to get their Currie Cup Premier Division campaign on track when they host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at DHL Newlands on Friday.

DHL Western Province will be looking to get their Currie Cup Premier Division campaign on track when they host the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at DHL Newlands on Friday.

Following their disappointing opening defeat to the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria, DHL Western Province went on camp to Hermanus in their bye week last week.

They have returned determined to impress in front of their faithful fans, although coach John Dobson knows his side have their work cut out for them against a Toyota Free State Cheetahs side that have claimed bonus-point wins in their first two games.

“It is going to be a very tough game for us this week, this Toyota Free State Cheetahs team is very close to their Vodacom Super Rugby side.

“We know we are up against it, but it gives us a chance at redemption because if we do manage to beat them then we will have washed off what happened at Loftus,” said Dobson.

The DHL Western Province coach explained that his side will have to raise their standards in a number of areas in the match which kicks off at 17h10 on Friday.

“Our carries, our tackles and our cleaning have to be a lot better so we are going to work hard on that, we are going to train more than we usually would to get the plans in place.

“This game is so important to us because it is a single round competition and we have still got to go to Ellis Park to play the Xerox Golden Lions, so this is a non-negotiable,” he said.

Dobson will be without the likes of Nizaam Carr, Khanyo Ngcukana, Chad Solomon, Oli Kebble and Dan du Plessis who have all been sidelined through injury.

“Nizaam has gone for an arthroscopy on his shoulder which will determine how long he is out for because they are trying to diagnose the injury.

“Khanyo Ngcukana is out for a couple of weeks after he pinched a nerve in his shoulder, and Chad Solomon has a syndesmosis injury in his ankle,” Dobson added.