WP eager to dip into bag of magic tricks
WESTERN Province won the Currie Cup battle in a one-sided 40-minute game against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, but who will go for 80 in the semi-final at Newlands on Saturday?
WP are favourites to win the rematch and book their place in the final against either the Sharks or the Golden Lions.
WP’s scrumming was one of the biggest talking points after their 34-7 beating of the Bulls, and for good reason.
It’s obviously one of the main things they’ll want to get right again, while the Bulls will have analysed and dissected every nook and cranny of the pack-down to prevent being shown up again.
Then there was the Bulls’ ball retention, or lack thereof - another thing that’ll be crucial at Newlands given WP’s counter-attacking ways.
From the first-minute knock-ons to a few heavier mistakes which WP pounced on, the Bulls didn’t do themselves any favours against the most dangerous counter-attacking outfit in the competition.
They will have no excuses for not being able to protect the ball in the rematch, while WP’s arsenal will be salivating at the chance to do what they feel they couldn’t really do in that weather last week - more with the ball.
WP flyhalf Damian Willemse said this week: “We did not have the opportunity on the weekend. But that stuff happens... Hopefully this weekend we get a few touches and can spark our magic and our skills.”
WP defence coach Norman Laker said the fact that they’ve entered finals territory won’t discourage them from playing the game that’s taken them to the top of the standings with a far superior points difference to the other contenders.
Defence is going to be important. The Bulls will somehow have to box in all that firepower and make use of their chances, while WP just need to do more of the same on defence to keep the Bulls’ try-tap sealed. And throwing in some of that collision-dominance will also help against a Bulls pack that should be a sturdier unit in the dry.
Those are some of the big things WP will want to continue and the Bulls will want to do differently on Saturday evening... for 80 minutes.
Good weather is expected compared to Loftus. It’s going to be cloudy, but compared to that downpour, even a bit of drizzle would be something to work with.
WP have not lost to the Bulls at Newlands since a 2009 semi-final the visitors won 21-9 before going on to win the title. That was the last time the Bulls had the honour of sipping from the trophy, while the defending champions have tasted that glory three times since.
If they manage to replicate the intent they showed in Pretoria, and the Bulls don’t step up big time, it just might be WP again who travel around town showing off the silverware.