CHALLENGE UNRAVELLING Smaller unions have to be fitter and smarter to compensate for their lack of resources
TAFEL Lager Griquas find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Currie Cup Premier Division log after three rounds of action in the competition. Three games and three losses for the Kimberley-based team have not done them any favours.
Even though Griquas secured two bonus points after narrow defeats to the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions, their last match, when they took on a motivated Sharks outfit in Durban on Friday, saw them solidly beaten 41-3 in a one-sided affair.
The Kimberley side now urgently need to make amends when they host DHL Western Province tomorrow afternoon if they want to remain in contention for the play-offs. Their Capebased opponents have only played two matches in the competition, being well-beaten by the defending champions the Free State Cheetahs 30-17 and then coming back the following week to thrash the Pumas 34-19.
Something for disgruntled Griqua supporters to consider, however, is that as disappointing as the team’s results may seem the bigger unions have the advantage that they have welcomed back a number of players from Vodacom Super Rugby duty; the smaller unions do not have that luxury.
However, having said that this obviously presents the challenge to these smaller unions, who wish to compete in the Premier Division, to increase the intensity, fitness, stamina and attitude of the players they have well beyond what is usually expected of them.
Assistant and forwards coach Dave Hesketh told the DFA in no uncertain terms that Griquas needed to up their intensity.
Need to step up
“The bottom line is we need to be more accurate in everything we do, particularly when we are under pressure. The guys need to step up to the tempo and physicality which is required at the Currie Cup level.
“We need to step up another gear or two this week and make sure we concentrate on ourselves and doing our jobs well in an effort to regain our confidence. Success against Western Province will start from our set pieces and physicality. From there we must make good decisions which will allow us to control the game for longer periods then we did against the Sharks,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, the Griqua Rugby Union yesterday invited all fans, supporters and lovers of the game to turn up at Tafel Lager Park in their numbers to support a very worthy cause as the Union celebrates Women’s Day.
Members of the public attending the game are requested to bring along a pack of sanitary products and drop it in the special donation boxes at the entrance gates. To further celebrate their female fans the Union is offering free entrance to each woman whose partner purchases a ticket. Tickets are available at all Computicket counters, as well as at Tafel Lager Park.
The invitation from the Union was unambiguous: “So ladies, get your partners down to the stadium tomorrow and support our team.”
AJ Coertzen (capt), Ederies Arendse, Tertius Kruger, Johnathan Franke, Enver Brandt, André Swarts, Christiaan Meyer, Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, Sias Koen, Wendal Wehr, Pieter Janse van Vuren,Mzwanele Zito Nicolaas Oosthuizen, Marius Fourie and Liam Hendricks.
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