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Seige of Kimberley to set up WP’s march on Bloemfontein
DHL Western Province coach John Dobson used a Boer War analogy to describe his first mission in the invasion of central South Africa that will be necessary if his men are to secure home ground advantage in the Currie Cup play-offs.
Dobson referenced SP Marais’ “tommie gun boot” as a major factor in what he described as the Siege of Kimberley, and if the talk of the rugby fever that has gripped the Northern Cape city is correct, it appears his men may well feel like they are under siege at Tafel Lager Park on Friday night.
The prizes up for grabs for the respective teams are obvious and carry plenty of gravitas, particularly for the hosts, who will secure a place in the play-offs for the first time in ages if they win what, if we are going to stick to the historical theme, would in the early 1900s have been a Cape Colony derby.
Not only will a win make sure of a semifinal for Griquas, it will also be a big step towards securing home ground advantage for that play-off fixture. The last time Griquas hosted a semifinal was funnily enough against WP in 1998, a game that their then coach Andre Markgraaff probably still remembers not so fondly for the thunderstorm that played havoc with his plans by turning it into a wet weather game.
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Memory of that event is a reminder that although WP did lose on their last visit, which was two years ago in the midst of a sequence that saw them play three matches in the space of one week, they do have a good record in the diamond capital. And they have tended to win the really big games there.
Dobson in particular should have fond memories of Kimberley for it was there that he made his name as a coach, guiding WP to their first ever Vodacom Cup triumph in a thrilling final about a decade ago.
“We know Griquas will be up to it but we are confident that we have the team to do the job, and we have been looking back at the record books. We did lose there two years ago, but our record against them in Kimberley has tended to be a good one,” said Dobson.
“Griquas have changed a bit in their approach under their new coaching staff. They used to play coast to coast, passing the ball across the field, but they are now much more structured and have a well developed kicking game that they work off, with George Whitehead the key to them getting territory. It will be incumbent upon us to put them under pressure defensively. For us it will be all about getting off the line and holding onto possession when we have it. We know that if we do turn over ball they are pretty devastating playing off the turn-over.”
The objective for Province is to turn the military type operation they face in the last week of the league phase of the season into an offensive. If they win in Kimberley, they can then prepare for a march on Bloemfontein for the final match the following week knowing that they will be playing for a home semifinal and perhaps even top spot on the final log.
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Dobson says he was thinking at one point of turning his march on Bloemfontein into a literal event by just moving his team up the 160 kilometre stretch of road that separates the cities rather than fly home first.
“Bloemfontein and Kimberley are of course very similar venues with similar conditions and we did think of staying up there for the week between the two games, but eventually opted against it,” said the WP coach.
“Funnily enough we are bussing back to Cape Town after the Kimberley game, which should be a lekker experience and a good team building exercise if we win.”
But a win can’t be taken for granted. Not this year. And skipper Chris van Zyl is fully aware of the dangers that lurk in assuming too much against these opponents at this particular venue.
“They are a very different team when they play in Kimberley to when they play at Newlands and they do seem to put something extra into it when they play against us,” said the WP lock.
“Where we are lying currently on the logs makes this a big game for us. They will be big time up for it, but we are fully aware of what is waiting for us up there and we will be ready for it.”
TWO OTHER MUST WIN GAMES
Friday night’s game in Kimberley will set the tone for a weekend that will see similar must-win scenario battles being enacted at two other venues. On Saturday the Cheetahs will be going to Nelspruit in search of the win that they now need to stand any chance of setting up a home semifinal and making next week’s clash with WP an extra special one.
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The Bloemfontein based team should be kicking themselves for letting two successive games slip through their fingers. They were beaten late in the game by the Lions two weeks ago and then lightning struck in the same place again last weekend in Durban. Franco Smith is eager for the grand farewell before his departure to Italy that will reconnect the Bloemfontein public with the team, so the game at Mbombela Stadium, where visiting teams tend to struggle, is a big one for him.
SUNDAY SHOOT-OUT IN JOHANNESBURG
Ditto for both the Golden Lions and the Sharks when it comes to the Sunday shoot-out between the two old rivals in Johannesburg. The Lions faltered unexpected against a very courageous Bulls team last week and as a result face a must-win scenario if they want to reclaim the pole position on the log that will give them a chance of hosting a final.
For the Sharks the objective is a simple one - they need to show that for once they are capable of backing up over successive weekends. It won’t be easy for them though and they are having to go with a new flyhalf in the form of under-21 pivot Boeta Chamberlain because of the injury enforced absence of Curwin Bosch.
WEEKEND CURRIE CUP PREMIER DIVISION FIXTURES
Friday, 16 August
Tafel Lager Griquas v DHL Western Province
Venue: Tafel Lager Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 19h15
Referee: Rasta Rashivenge
TMO: Pro Legoete
TV: SS1
Teams
Tafel Lager Griquas - Anthony Volmink, Ederies Arendse, Michal Haznar, Andre Swarts, Eduan Keyter, George Whitehead (c), Zac Burger, Neill Jordaan, Sias Koen, Zandre Jordaan, Victor Sekekete, Ian Groenewald, Ewald van der Weshuizen, AJ le Roux, Khwezi Mona. Replacements: Wilmar Arnoldi, Mox Mxoli, Johan Momsen, Gideon van der Merwe, Chriswill September, Chris Smit, Bjorn Basson, Ruan Kramer.
DHL Western Province - SP Marais, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Dan Kriel, Seabelo Senatla, Josh Stander, Justin Phillips, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, JD Schickerling, Ernst van Rhyn, Chris van Zyl (c), Salmaan Moerat, Carlu Sadie, Chad Solomon, Corne Fourie. Replacements: Schalk Erasmus, Kwenzo Blose, Neethling Fouche, David Meihuizen, Nama Xaba, Paul de Wet, Damian Willemse, Edwill van der Merwe.
Saturday 17 August
Phakisa Pumas v Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: Christie du Preez
TV: SS1
Teams
Phakisa Pumas - Devon Williams, Morne Joubert, Alwayno Visagie, Henko Marais, Luther Obi, Chris Smith, Ashlon Davids, Willie Engelbrecht, Carel du Preez, Jeandre Rudolph, Stefan Willemse, Le Roux Roets, Marne Coetzee, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements: Simon Westraadt, De-Jay Terblance, Hilton Lobberts, Phumzile Maqondwana, Ginter Smits, Jaco Marais, Ruwellyn Isbell, Ngonidzashe Chidoma.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs - Clayton Blommetjies, William Small-Smith, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Dries Swanepoel, Tian Meyer (c), Louis Fouche, Ruan Pienaar, Henco Venter, Junior Pokomela, Gerhard Olivier, JP du Preez, Walt Steenkamp, Aranos Coetzee, Jacques du Toit, Schalk van der Merwe. Replacements: Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche, Erich de Jager, Sitnu Manjesi, Abongile Nonkontwana, Jasper Wiese, Dian Badenhorst, Tapiwa Mafura
Sunday, 18 August
Xerox Golden Lions v Cell C Sharks
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 14h00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen.
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
TV: SS1
Teams
Xerox Golden Lions - (TBC)
Cell C Sharks - Aphelele Fassi, Kobus van Wyk, JP Pietersen, Jeremy Ward (co-captain), Lwazi Mvovo, Boeta Chamberlain, Sanele Nohamba, Tera Mtembu (co-captain), Jacques Vermeulen, Phepsi Buthelezi, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, John-Hubert Meyer, Kerron van Vuuren, Mzamo Majola. Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Juan Schoeman, Khutha Mchunu, Gideon Koegelenberg, Evan Roos, Cameron Wright, Rhyno Smith, Leolin Zas
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