Bulldogs on the hunt for big morale-booster
After early loss, a home win vital
MAKAZOLE Mapimpi will be the man to watch for the Border Bulldogs when they welcome the Windhoek Welwitschias to the Buffalo City Stadium tonight at 7pm.
Mapimpi, a try-scoring machine of note who has been in red-hot form this year, will be playing his 50th match for the provincial side.
Mapimpi should have a field day and an avalanche of tries given the mediocre status of their opponents.
The Welwitschias, who lost all their matches during the Currie Cup qualifiers, have lost both their matches so far in the First Division while Border lost their opening game, so both will be hunting a morale-boosting victory.
“We want to win the match, it is an important game for us to gain some momentum and confidence,” said Border Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana.
Of major importance for the home team will be laying the platform for their exciting backline to attack off and they will need to be dominant in the scrums and at the breakdown.
“We want to win the fight upfront and set up the platform for our running backs, so that they can have space to run, as we have a number of X-factor players who can make things happen,” said Fana. “We have a good mobile forward pack, so I believe that they can set the standard for our backs in the match.”
Fans could be in for a try-scoring feast as both the Bulldogs and Welwitschias like to run the ball.
With Border having lost their first match of the competition and the Welwitschias having lost two, the two teams have still managed to run in 12 tries between them, four to the Bulldogs and eight to the visitors.
It is Border’s first home game of the competition and first match back since they lost to the Cheetahs in the final match of the Currie Cup qualifiers, so they will be eager to put in a good performance in front of their home fans.
“We have not played well in front of our fans recently, so I feel we owe them a good performance,” admitted Fana.
“We appreciate them coming out and supporting us every home game and we want to give them something back, so I hope that we can give them some great wins here during the competition.”
Following today’s match, Border face the Griffons next weekend, which will be a massive match as the Griffons will be one of the main challengers for the title this season. Tonight’s match kicks off at 7pm. Border Bulldogs starting XV: Blake Kyd; Mihlali Mpafi, Phumlani Blaauw, Lindokuhle Welemu, Hendri Storm; Onke Dubase, Siya Mdaka (capt); Johannes Janse van Rensburg, Sinovuyo Nyoka, Masixole Banda, Makazole Mapimpi, Lunga Dumezweni, Lundi Ralarala, Siphosenkosi Nofemele and Sonwabiso Mqalo.
Reserves: Mbeko Kota, Yanga Xakalashe, Siyamthanda Ngande, Sokuphumla Xakalashe, Athenkosi Khetani, Bangi Kobese and Oliver Zono.