The signs are ominous for DHL Western Province, last year’s Absa Currie Cup runners up, as they prepare to face the table-topping MTN Golden Lions at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Friday evening.
The men from Cape Town have lost their last two games in the Absa Currie Cup, last weekend at home against the Sharks and the week before that against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
In 2010, DHL WP also had a mid-season slump as they lost to the Sharks, Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions on successive weekends.
Robbie Fleck, the former Springbok centre and current DHL WP assistant coach, said: “The Lions have a fantastic all-round game. They are disciplined, well-organised and are excellent at holding onto possession.
“That is their entire game plan – they look to handle the ball and force their opponents into making tackles. They are not the log leaders for nothing and I think regardless of Friday’s result, they are going to be there and there about come the end of the season.
“For us it is a massive challenge and we need to get stuck into them from the start. We want to put them under pressure and retain ball as well so for the young guys it is another mammoth task, but one the guys are really looking forward to.”
Last year in Absa Currie Cup: 17 July – DHL WP won 32-0 in Cape Town and on 3 September – MTN Golden Lions won 46-28 in Johannesburg
This weekend’s rugby fixtures:
- 19 August – Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas, kick-off at 17:00 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Referee: Sindile Mayende
- 19 August – DHL Western Province vs MTN Golden Lions, kick-off at 19:00 at DHL Newlands, Cape Town. Referee: Marius Jonker
- 19 August – The Sharks vs Platinum Leopards, kick-off at 19:10 at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban. Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
- 19 August – Regent Boland Cavaliers vs SWD Eagles, kick-off at 16:00 at Boland Stadium, Wellington. Referee: Jaco Peyper
- 19 August – Valke vs Border Bulldogs, kick-off at 17:00 at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park. Referee: Stuart Berry
- 20 August – Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Ford Pumas, kick-off at 15:00 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. Referee: Pro Legoete
- 20 August – South Africa vs New Zealand, kick-off at 17:05 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
