Despite the disappointment of losing the Currie Cup Final at DHL Newlands, there is much to be positive about after the 2018 campaign.

DHL Western Province went through the season unbeaten until the final against the Cell C Sharks and scored an impressive 40 tries in their seven consecutive wins.

More on Van Rhyn, Augustus & Moerat here

On top of having the best attacking and defensive stistics in the competition, DHL Western Province unearthed some incredible talent, which shows that the future is bright.

Players such as Salmaan Moerat, Ernst van Rhyn, Juarno Augustus, Herschel Jantjies, Josh Stander and Sergeal Petersen all thrived in their first season at DHL Newlands.

DHL Western Province Head Coach John Dobson said after the final that this has created valuable depth at the union going forward.

“At the start of this campaign guys like Kobus van Dyk, Ernst van Rhyn, Dan Kriel, Herschel Jantjies and Josh Stander weren’t massive names.

“They have done really well and we have got a massive amount of depth now.

“Cobus Wiese and EW Viljoen didn’t play a second and Dan du Plessis hardly played so it is very exciting for the future of Western Province Rugby. I think they really did us proud this whole campaign,” he said.

Although disappointed, Dobson congratulated the Cell C Sharks for their performance in the final at DHL Newlands.

“I think the Sharks thoroughly deserved to win. There is a lot of emotion because of the disappointment.

“It was one of those days. I don’t think there was a mental aspect to it, if we had won those line-outs then we would probably be having a different conversation,” he said.

Dobson was particularly disappointed for the DHL Newlands Faithful, who had turn out to support them team.

“I am just sad for the people at DHL Newlands who deserved a better spectacle today.

“We were desperate to play with tempo, but we couldn’t get it going,” he added.

DHL Western Province captain Chris van Zyl said that he hopes the positive team environment that was created in the Currie Cup is taken forward.

“There was so much invested in this campaign, the guys were all emotionally invested and the guys who played for the Springboks came back with that same feeling.

“I think the biggest thing is the team dynamic and team culture that the Currie Cup seems to have got right in the last two years. We now need to take that forward and instil that and get it going,” he said.