The Kimberley team have been hard at work sorting out the mistakes from their last outing when they were trounced 47-19 by the Cell C Sharks in Durban.
TAFEL Lager Griquas are preparing for their final match of the season when they will host the Toyota Cheetahs at Tafel Lager Park on Saturday at 4.30pm.
The Kimberley team have been hard at work sorting out the mistakes from their last outing when they were trounced 47-19 by the Cell C Sharks in Durban.
Comments from former Griqua players though not scathing, hints that the current crop of Griqua players can improve quite a bit. The past Griqua greats have suggested that the team makes unnecessary mistakes. For example attempting ‘chip kicks’ from inside their own 22-meter area; this is very dangerous and high risk.
The Griqua defence line needs to improve greatly as does their discipline, but their lack of communication, according to some former players, needs a lot of work.
There were shining lights in the line-up though.Flanker, Gideon van der Merwe and scrumhalf, Zak Burger had a good game in Durban.
Reading through comments on the Griqua social media group, one strong sentiment suggested that there was an established Griqua culture and that players who came to Kimberley from other unions should buy into this culture, but for now, for the team as they stand, they have to get back to the drawing board and sharpen their basics and keep it simple.
Griqua head coach, Scott Mathie, told the DFA ahead of their final Carling Currie Cup fixture that the team are looking to make this a game to remember.
“Just a final game of the 2020 season for us and looking to make this last one a memorable one. We were disappointed with our performance in Durban so it is important that we make amends for that.
“This weekend we have obviously got to focus on our breakdown, which wasn’t good enough for the Sharks so that is important. And we know what to expect from the Cheetahs, as they like to play at a quick tempo and that is important that defensively we are very abrasive in the tackle and we are able to give a lot of width, scan and make sure we eliminate their threats,” Mathie said.
“With all the rain we have had during this week and by the end of the week it should be drying out hopefully so we also need to start asserting our tempo and our control of that tempo on the Cheetahs too. We are also looking to get some good ball for us to play from a good attacking platform from which to work,” he added.
Then, as if to emphasise their intent for this game, the coach repeated: “We are looking forward to the game and would like to make this last one a special one.”
