‘We plan to execute on our plan regardless of who they bring along. It does not matter whether its their A or B team,’ Peter Bergh, Griqua coach.
TAFEL Lager Griquas have settled for ‘continuity and consistency’ in their player selection for tomorrow’s Carling Currie Cup clash against the Vodacom Bulls who they host at their Tafel Lager Park stronghold this weekend.
Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said as much during a media Zoom meeting ahead of the match. “This time we looked at players who obviously did well and performed consistently during our outings against the likes of Pumas and Western Province and so on and considered them for selection,” the coach said.
The Kimberley team were expecting the full Bulls squad including all its international players to arrive in the Diamond City after the Pretoria side had completed their assignment last week in the United Rugby Championship which they played overseas.
“Maybe they will field some of the 28 players they took overseas (for their URC matches) or perhaps they will field those who went but didn’t get a chance to play,” Bergh speculated.
The Griqua coach rattled off the names of the Bulls players he considered key in their camp and who posed a definite danger to his side.
“They might now want to consider playing good players like (Lizo) Gqoboka, the Kriel brothers (David and Richard), Muller Uys and so on. They have depth in their squad and it will be challenging for us.
“Whatever side they field will be challenging.”
Bergh acknowledged that playing their fifth game at their home ground gave Griquas an edge over visiting sides and that it gave especially his players that extra confidence.
The Griquas has always been known as being no pushovers at home even though their away games record was in places less than flattering. “Yes, many say we are a difficult side at home,” said the coach.
Bergh said another factor that may count in their favour was the fact that Griquas were familiar with many of the players in the Bulls camp as some of them had at some point donned the peacock blue jersey.
As for tomorrow’s game Bergh sounded determined for his side to get maximum advantage from the game. “We plan to execute on our plan regardless of who they bring along. It does not matter whether its their A or B team,” he said.
Many Griquas fans will have a not so fond recollection of the last season when their favourite team played against the Bulls at Loftus Versveld in late August. Then the hosting Bulls denied a plucky and determined Griquas a pass to that season’s semi-finals beating Griquas 56-33.
Tomorrow’s game starts at 2.30pm. Fans who wish to enter the stadium need a valid ticket, a valid vaccination certificate with QR code, the ID document or driver’s licence and must wear a mask.
According to Covid-19 safety protocols fans need to maintain social distancing, wear their mask at all times and note that no consumption of alcohol will be permitted inside the stadium.
