Skipper Van Zyl losing patience with his ‘naughty’ WP players

boys… that new energy and that new culture (is great). We’re just taking it day by day. So it’s nice to be back. And it’s easy to settle in, because of our management and the way we want to play.”

Jantjies has been a bit up and down with his goalkicking, but the 27-year-old said that he has been working on his relationship with the posts, and added that other things like creating space and decision making were also at the top of his improvement list.

“For me goal-kicking is just about trusting my body and trusting my technique. It’s something that you work on a lot, repeating the same routine every time, so it’s all about trusting your body and believing in yourself until it becomes instinctive,” Jantjies said.

“There’s a few things I’ve been working on every day I go to the training field – making sure I make the right decisions at the right time whether it’s in the attacking zone or the defensive zone.

“I challenge myself to make the right decisions every single time, and to create some space for my outside backs as well. That’s something I really aspire to, to create space for the guys on my inside and my outside.” JUST like in kindergarten Western Province may soon have to set up a “naughty corner”, such has been their ill-discipline during this Currie Cup season.

Province captain Chris van Zyl is certainly not going tolerate it any longer and has called on his team to reduce the number of penalties being handed to the opposition and the yellow cards incurred over the past couple of weeks.

The ill-discipline cost Province dearly in the defeat to Griquas in Kimberley and again this past weekend when the home side held on for a 45-34 win despite leading 42-13 at one stage.

“The first thing I did on Monday was to bring up the issue of discipline,” Van Zyl said.

“If you look at all our games it’s been a bit of an issue. Although sometimes we feel that we’ve been hard done by, it doesn’t matter. We have to be on the right side of the referees and we don’t want to be giving away penalties.

“The Lions’ biggest thing is how direct they are and the running lines they offer. I think all their forwards, as well their centres, present a big threat especially close to the rucks. That is something we have been looking at.

“I’ve played against them when you feel you just can’t hang on to them. The reason is that that they get momentum on their carries and run great lines. It is about managing that and ensuring they don’t get that momentum. Otherwise it does get difficult,” said Van Zyl.

There will certainly be plenty of focus on centre EW Viljoen on Friday due to the challenge that awaits him and his centre partner Huw Jones. For all the speed and flair Province possess out wide in the flying Dillyn Leyds and Seabelo Senatla, the home side will first have to contend with a Lions centre pairing that is equally dangerous and powerful.

Harold Vorster was outstanding for the Lions in Super Rugby and will be joined by the returning Springbok Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Both are explosive centres who attack the gain line and will certainly ask plenty of questions of Viljoen and Jones on defence.