Human wants one last push for semis
Griquas rugby coach Pote Human hopes his side can overcome one last hurdle as they target a place in the Currie Cup semifinals.
The Peacock Blues beat title holders the Golden Lions 37-21 in Kimberley on Saturday, climbing to fourth position in the table with only the Sharks standing in their way for a place in the last four.
"We did very well to beat the Lions," Human said.
"We had a slow start and it was never going to be easy to come from behind with a score like 15-0 against you.
"The team showed character. Hopefully we can produce much of the same next week in Durban."
The visitors scored two good tries to put the hosts under pressure, but Griquas lapped it up and responded with four tries of their own, including a brace by winger Rocco Jansen.
"Rocco is a special player who knows where the try-line is. He performed very well," Human said.
"I though Willie le Roux did well at fullback, while Francois Brummer and flanker Justin Downey also impressed me."
Griquas struggled in the scrums early in the match but pulled together and hit back with an impressive performance.
They also defended well and gave the Lions heaps of trouble in the lineouts.
"Our lineouts and scrums were very good. We did struggle in the beginning, but we came back very strong and got a good attacking platform.
"I do, however, think that our discipline is an area of concern. We conceded too many penalties, especially at the rucks.
"It is something that has to be remedied this week."
The Lions, who had already secured a home semifinal, dropped to second in the standings.
"We gave away easy tries and it was always going to be difficult to come back from that," said Lions interim coach Johan Ackermann.
"We also put in a poor performance at the lineouts, one aspect of our game that is normally on par.
"We played against ourselves by making unforced errors and kicking away possession. Simply put, we were beaten by a better side."
With one more match ahead of the playoffs, against perennial rivals the Blue Bulls at Ellis Park, Ackermann said his side would need to be on form in an effort to ensure themselves a home final if they got that far in their title defence.
"We know the Bulls are at the bottom of the log and that they are under immense pressure. That makes them a dangerous side," Ackermann said.
"We, in turn, put ourselves under pressure by losing to Griquas.
"We've got a whole week to remedy what went wrong and we need to do it before the Bulls clash."
