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Pleasing fightback for Coetzee

PUBLISHED: August 17, 2013


DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee was a relieved man on Saturday night after his team’s 15-14 come-from-behind victory over the Free State Cheetahs.

The defending Absa Currie Cup champions earned their first win of the 2013 season, that after trailing by 0-14 after just 16 minutes of play at a wet, and slippery, DHL Newlands.

A first-half try by lock Michael Rhodes, from a line-out steal, followed by a late Deon Fourie try (four minutes from time) gave WP the win – that after they trailed for 76 minutes of the match.

“I've been to a few rugby games, so you, sort of, learn to handle these things,” said Coetzee on Saturday evening when asked about the tense nature of his side's win.

“Anything can happen against the run of play in rugby, that's what you have to accept – as a player and a coach, but the important thing is to get the focus back on the task at hand.

“Yes, the first try there was a defensive error – there were a few more, but that was costly – and, obviously, there was that intercept against the run of play. That (intercept) was a 14-point swing, as we could easily scored ourselves, but it shows the character of this team.

“I was nervous, I must be honest, but I was very pleased with how we came back to win it.”

Looking back at the match, with reference to last week's 24-24 draw with the Blue Bulls (also at DHL Newlands), Coetzee added: “We disappointed ourselves and our fans in just 20 minutes last week.

“A lot was written and said this week about our team, but we worked hard on our scrummaging and I thought we went very well there. There was a bit of uncertainty over the scrumming last week, with the new laws, but we showed a big improvement this week.

“Our kicking game, considering the weather conditions, was also excellent and even though our line-outs weren't perfect – compared to last week – we got it right when it mattered. Those are good signs, pleasing signs. It says a lot about the character of the team – how we ended Super Rugby and how we began last week – it shows how we're growing.”

Whilst WP conceded two tries on the night – one from an intercept – coach Coetzee praised his team's defensive performance against the Free Staters.

He said: “By half-time we made 40 tackles and missed just three. We slipped up with one tackle – and they scored – in general I thought our defence was solid.

“This was almost a Super Rugby team, the Cheetahs, they had us under pressure but we coped well and clawed our way back. It was a good win, we were under pressure after last week, but we managed a good result in the end.”

Injury-wise, outside centre Pat Howard left the field in the 47th minute with a tight hamstring, whilst flyhalf Gary van Aswegen took a knock to the shoulder and he was replaced in the 72nd minute.

“We felt it was best to take Pat off, the guys have been training in the wet these past two weeks (so) he felt his hamstring a bit and we didn't want to risk him.

“Gary took a slight knock to the shoulder but he, too, should be fine.

“The rest of the guys have the usual bumps and bruises,” added Coetzee, “but, thankfully, we have no serious injury worries.”

DHL Western Province will travel to Kimberley to take on Griquas at GWK Park next Saturday (kick-off 15h00).