Last week, Griquas enjoyed time off, due to the Bulls match being cancelled as a result of Covid 19 in their camp and the Kimberley team have come out well refreshed and eager to get on with their game.
THE TAFEL Lager Griquas will be travelling down to Cape Town on Christmas Day to take on the strong DHL Western Province outfit in a Boxing Day Carling Currie Cup fixture on Saturday afternoon at Newlands, with kickoff at 4.30pm.
Western Province for their part still have three league games to play but starting on Boxing Day when they host Griquas at Newlands they will effectively be going into what they see as the business end of the Carling Currie Cup.
Last week, Griquas enjoyed time off, due to the Bulls match being cancelled as a result of Covid 19 in their camp and the Kimberley team have come out well refreshed and eager to get on with their game.
In their last outing, Griquas gave an erratic display in their ‘want to win’ Carling Currie Cup fixture against Phakisa Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit two weeks ago, going down narrowly 22-17.
It was the Pumas that stamped their authority from the outset with entertaining phases of play on attack and were dominant in the scrums, which paid off with a 15-7 halftime lead. But Griquas made a fist of it and fought back with bravery, skill and determination.
The team has to learn that they should concentrate at kick-offs and make sure that all line-outs are won as Griquas have tall locks. They need to give Zak Burger space to attack and also need to ensure that other teams do not score from first phase ball as there should not be overlaps in the backline.
It will be interesting to see if the coach picks Beerwinkel at loosehead for this match to beef up the scrum, while the fullback berth remains a problem because Verity Amm misses far too many tackles and Moxolo is too small under the high ball and is also swatted aside like a fly when tackling. Maybe the other flyhalf should start after last week’s poor performance by the ex-Tukkie, Tinus de Beer. It was hoped that he would have been the answer, but he had a poor game against the Pumas.
Fortunately, the Province injuries to some of their key players are a thing of the past and the problem is now behind WP and assistant coach, Dawie Snyman, is hopeful that head coach John Dobson will have a full squad to select from for the Griquas game.
Griquas head coach, Scott Mathie told the DFA, “It will not be easy for the guys travelling down to Cape Town on Christmas Day and playing on Boxing Day. But I think they have adapted well and we are looking forward to the trip. We are aware of the challenge ahead against the Stormers, while the guys have trained well this week.and are excited about the game.
“This game will be a nice big one for us and I think the players have had a good rest recently and have come back recharged and in good spirits. Obviously, it is going to be a big set piece battle and we have to match them up-front if we are going to achieve any success on the weekend.”
Dave Alexander
