WP need more than scrum power, says prop Malherbe

If Western Province want to challenge for Carling Currie Cup honours they cannot rely solely on the power they generate at scrum time, prop Frans Malherbe says.

Licking their wounds after a narrow 22-20 loss to the logleading Bulls at Newlands, WP are facing a tough game against the Lions at Ellis Park tomorrow (kick-off 7pm).

After their loss to the Bulls, WP are third on the log and need maximum points to keep their hopes of a play-off berth alive.

Despite three defeats in seven games in the Unlocked series and Currie Cup, WP have shown they are a force to be reckoned with at scrum time.

The powerful Malherbe and fellow Springbok front rankers Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi and Scarra Ntubeni are a powerful block to clear for rival teams.

“I don’t think any team can rely just on their scrumming,” Malherbe said.

“We ’ re trying to put a complete game together.

“Good set-pieces, which scrumming obviously forms part of, and we’re trying to get the balance and complete package right.

“We want to do well in all facets.

“When we have a scrum and we have the opportunity to dominate, then we’ll go for it, but it’s definitely not the only thing we want to dominate in, we can’t just rely on that.”

Malherbe is not expecting his team to have things all their own way at Ellis Park.

“You have to have a lot of respect for the Lions scrum,” he said.

You ’ ll definitely be in trouble if you underestimate them.

“It will be a big challenge for us this weekend and we’ll work hard in the week to prepare as well as possible.”

“In my opinion scrum dominance is about the whole pack combining, especially the back five of locks and loose forwards.

“Their binding and how they commit to each scrum is important and they really have to get a lot of credit.

“Those guys really brought a lot of pressure this weekend and it makes our job easier.

“It was a solid scrumming performance against the Bulls, but it’s a pity we didn’t get the result.

“I think the pack did relatively well in the set-pieces.

We performed well in the scrums, we did quite well stopping their mauls but it was just our decision making at certain areas could have been better.

“We took the wrong options but I think we’ll be better for it.

“We ’ re growing as a team and I think if we made better decisions in certain areas, then things would improve.”

Though the starting forward pack remains unchanged, there are three changes and two positional switches in the backline for the Lions clash.

Damian Willemse is at fullback in place of the injured Warrick Gelant, with Tim Swiel starting at flyhalf where he will form an all-new halfback combination with Godlen Masimla.

Ruhan Nel comes into the starting line-up at outside centre for the first time this season and will link up in midfield with Dan du Plessis, who moves to inside centre.

Lock David Meihuizen, flank Marcel Theunissen and scrumhalf Paul de Wet are all back in the mix as subs.

WP head coach John Dobson said that his team had embraced the challenge that awaited them in Johannesburg.

“We know that we will have to be at our best for 80 minutes this weekend if we are going to get the result that we are looking for.

“We have prepared well for this game and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity to show what it means to us to play for Western Province, ” he said.

Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Jaco Coetzee, 25 Kade Wolhuter, 26 Rikus Pretorius.