Tafel Lager Griquas coach Peter Bergh said he expects a strong and experienced Western Province to pitch up at Tafel Lager Park on Friday night.
THE TAFEL Lager Griquas have dismissed DHL Western Province’s recall of flyhalf Stephan Ungerer back to the Western Cape as part of a mind game ahead of their crucial Carling Currie Cup encounter at Tafel Lager Park on Friday evening.
Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said about the recall: “Yes, it’s been known for a while that he (Stephan Ungerer) will return to the Cape at the end of the season.
“It’s funny they announced it this week when we were playing them. They are playing mind games. Stephan is still with Griquas until the end of the season.”
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The mind games aside, Bergh said he expects a strong and experienced Western Province to pitch up at Tafel Lager Park on Friday night. This was especially so in light of the visitors’ narrow loss against Griquas in July last year. On that occasion Griquas ground out a 28-30 win under the guiding hand of Scott Mathie.
Team Announcement !
💥 Tafel Lager Griquas vs. DHL WP
📍 Tafel Lager Park, Kimberley
⏰18 Feb 2022 – 19:00
🎫 Tickets on sale at all Computicket Outlets#TafelLagerGriquas #TheChampionWithin #CurrieCup pic.twitter.com/IQ13MiNAGw— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) February 16, 2022
“They are hurting from last year’s loss,” Bergh said. “They are an experienced side with lots of speed. We know where they will test us.”
The Griquas mentor fielded questions about Zander du Plessis’s super boot. The player got himself noticed especially for that superb 60-metre plus penalty kick he executed flawlessly against Airlink Pumas at home in their 41-20 drubbing of the Mpumalanga side in their last encounter.
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Bergh said he knows Du Plessis from back when he was still turning out for junior sides elsewhere. Du Plessis’ inclusion in the senior Griquas side was seemingly fortuitous. According to Berg when he joined Griquas he found the club troubled with injuries.
The regular No.10 George Whitehead was out injured and Bergh looked around for a suitable replacement, and found Du Plessis who turned out to be eminently suited to the flyhalf even though he usually played at inside centre.
“He is still growing in the number 12 jersey. We are working on his ball carrying ability as well as his distribution. He is also very physical. In all he has everything we need,” said the coach.
Griquas lock Mzwanele Zito also came in for a mention with Bergh saying Zito was a “hard physical lock with nice running lines. Zito was scooped up from the Varsity rugby league and is spending his first professional stint with Griquas.
The Griquas technical team also discussed the condition of the pitch at Tafel Lager Park, making mention that its current condition might be suited for Western Province saying the pitch would be softer than usual this time around owing to the generous recent rains.
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“The condition of the pitch might favour WP as they are more often playing on wet pitches back home owing to the type of weather in that part of the world,” Bergh said.
With both teams having secured one win and suffering two defeats from their three games in the competition thus far, and only separated by points-difference on the log – Griquas in fourth spot with five log points and a points difference of 10, while WP are is sixth position also with five points, but a points difference of -22.
The result of this game is not cut and dried, and by all appearances whoever wants it more will walk away from the field with the bragging rights.
Tafel Lager Griquas XV (15-1): Rynhardt Joncker, Munier Hartzenberg, Jonathan Francke, Zander du Plessis, Luther Obi, Fiela Boshoff, Stephan Ungerer, Siba Qoma, Michael Amiras, Neil Otto, Derik Pretorius, Mzwanele Zito, Janu Botha, Janco Uys, Eddie Davis. Bench (16-23): Gustav du Rand, Kudzwi Dube, Andries Schutte, Johan Retief, Hanru Sirgel, Reagan Oranje, André Swarts, Sango Xamlashe
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💪 First home fixture coming up !
📍 Tafel Lager Park, Kby !
Tafel Lager Griquas will host the Pumas on 02 Feb 2022 – kick off at 15:30.#TafelLager #CarlingCurrieCup pic.twitter.com/R9hsJKa8dT— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) January 12, 2022
