Western Province has a plan for Lions
Coach stresses work ethic for Currie Cup semifinal
Western Province coach John Dobson has challenged his team to “outwork” the Golden Lions when the sides meet in their Currie Cup semifinal on Saturday.
Western Province coach John Dobson has challenged his team to “outwork” the Golden Lions when the sides meet in their Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands on Saturday.
The Lions‚ with five returning Springboks‚ were exceptional at the breakdown against the Free State Cheetahs last week and it is an area of the game that Dobson expects will be a huge challenge. As a result Dobson has left out promising 20-year-old flank Cobus Wiese and turned to Kobus van Dyk‚ who is more clinical at the breakdown.
“Cobus Wiese is immensely talented and he will probably be a Springbok in the future‚ but Van Dyk brings a really high work rate‚” Dobson said.
“The Lions have selected five Springboks who started against the All Blacks two weeks ago and lost by a point.
“We will have to get stuck in from the get-go because it’s not a game we can manage. We simply have to get stuck in.
“I’ve told the players not to worry about the result but simply concentrate on working hard. If we have a high work rate we have a good chance because the Lions are exceptional at the breakdown,” Dobson said.
“They have a host of ‘stealers’ — both their centres‚ hooker Malcolm Marx and flank Cyle Brink. If we don’t work and react to the clean ball‚ we will be under pressure.
“Our big emphasis has been our work off the ball and if we do that well‚ we win. It’s that simple,” Dobson said.
Springbok wing Dillyn Leyds has also been selected at fullback‚ after operating on the left wing against the Sharks in their match last week.
“We experimented a bit last week with Dillyn on the wing and Damian Willemse at fullback. But I don’t believe we saw enough of Dillyn in the match.
“He is the best fullback at the union in my opinion, so we want to get maximum use out of him this week. We have a nice second-half plan with Damian Willemse and [scrumhalf] Jano Vermaak. We feel the bench will have more impact this week and someone like Damian has the ability to break a game open.”
Robert du Preez continues at flyhalf this week, while centre EW Viljoen returns to the midfield where he will partner Huw Jones. Ruhan Nel‚ who started at inside centre during last week’s 31-20 win over the Sharks‚ shifts to the left wing.