WP wary of Sharks’ dangerous backline
WESTERN PROVINCE attack coach Dawie Snyman says they will have to be focused on their own game and their execution when they meet the Sharks in Durban on Saturday (3pm kickoff ).
Province lost to the Golden Lions in Johannesburg at the weekend, and although they dominated the majority of the match, unforced errors and shaky defence let them down at Ellis Park.
And when asked what they will do differently this weekend, Snyman said: “It’s individual errors that put us under pressure, but you can’t put it down to one player. We need to be focused on what we want to do and our execution.
“We would have been guaranteed a home semi-final. We really went for that match with the goal of winning it and we had the opportunities to do so, but we just weren’t good enough to pull it off.
“It’s going to be a very good challenge and our chance to make things right. They’re playing with confidence and we’re expecting a very tough game.
“The Sharks had a bye last week so I think they’ll do everything to get things in place for the semis.”
Snyman also said they will have to match the Sharks up front if they want to keep Durban-based team’s backs from doing damage. WP will travel to Kings Park for their last Currie Cup round-robin match this weekend in the hopes of securing a win to bag a home semi-final spot.
John Dobson’s side put themselves under pressure last weekend when they succumbed to the Lions, so they have to beat the Sharks in order to play a semi at Newlands.
And apart from watching their own mistakes and limiting what plagued them at Ellis Park, Snyman says they will also keep an eye on the Sharks’ “dangerous” backs.
“The Sharks have showed that they want to play with tempo, but they are also very physical and they win their matches through forward dominance, and that’s how they bring their backs into the game,” Snyman said.
“(S’bu) Nkosi hurt us at Newlands, so he’s one to watch and he’s shown that he’s one for the future. But if we aren’t going to match them up front, we’ll give their backs space. But we also want to give space to our players who are dangerous in space.”
With players like utility back Dillyn Leyds and tighthead prop Wilco Louw back in the mix after their Springbok stints, WP will receive a much-needed boost for the weekend, and so will the Sharks.
But Snyman was nonetheless happy with his team’s Bok injection ahead of the weekend.
“They (Leyds and Louw) were at training today (yesterday) and their experience is really valuable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leyds was the big winner at the WPRFU Awards evening last night, as the pacey back scooped three gongs.
Leyds bagged the Most Valuable Player, Senior Bounce Player of the Year and the Composure and Capability awards.
JD Schickerling also walked away with an award, as the lock was awarded the Players’ Player of the Year award.
Stormers captain Siya Kolisi took the Above and Beyond award, and in the other senior category, Schickerling also bagged the WP Best Forward title, while scrumhalf Jano Vermaak was gifted the WP Best Back award.
Loose forward Jaco Coetzee was named the WP Most Promising Senior Forward, while flyhalf Damian Willemse was named the Most Promising Senior Back.