News

WP wary of Falcons

Friday 18th July 2008

Wake-up call: Gcobani Bobo

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee doesn't expect anything but a tough Currie Cup encounter when they take on the Falcons at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan on Friday.

Province lost to Griquas in Kimberley last Saturday and the Western Province coach made it clear this week that there is no such thing as a match against a smaller union.

"It doesn't get any easier," said Coetzee.

"I said from the outset let's forget about smaller unions in this competition. It's like the Boks, as world champs you run out against Papua New Guinea and it's going to be a hard game.

"Us going to Brakpan is going to be even tougher.

"I am sure the Falcons must have a lot of confidence knowing that they got close against the Sharks.

"They played well against the Sharks and we lost to Griquas, so they will be very confident and back themselves at home again, but like Gcobani Bobo (Western Province skipper) said after the match, it was a wake-up call for us."

Coetzee said against Griquas they had a relatively easy start and got three points on the board quickly, but they didn't think Griquas would come back at them the way they did.

"We didn't realise how hard they would come back at us," admitted Coetzee.

"They would not just lie down. They came back for 80 minutes and that is the challenge for us, to be at the top of our game for 80 minutes."

Coetzee pointed out that these days you cannot underestimate the so-called minnows, but also said he was confident in his team's abilities.

"These are professional guys, so they should be up for it. We prepared really well," he said.

"I am positive about our preparation, although we know the Falcons are really going to come with even more froth around their mouths on Friday night.

"The Falcons are a very good side. Under Rudy Joubert they have made a lot of improvements already. They play an expansive game and the way I see it they don't bother too much about setting up rucks.

"They just offload and get the ball as wide as possible. They have the right players to do it. No one should underestimate them, especially not in Brankpan.

"And if we are not on our guard and if we defend like we did last week, we will be in trouble again.

"But we tightened that up. You would have seen most of our sessions this week was around defence to make sure this weekend we are up for it."