WP locked in for Loftus trip
07/24/2024 01:30 AM
Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani said DHL Western Province are focused on fine-tuning their game for a massive challenge against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
WP face The Herd in round 4 of the 2024 Currie Cup at Loftus Versfeld. John Dobson's charges climbed into fifth place on the standings by thrashing the Griffons last week, while the Bulls beat Cheetahs 25-13 at home.
Phiwe Nomlomo's men opened their campaign with three tries in a narrow victory against WP at a wet Cape Town Stadium three weeks ago, and extended their impressive start to rugby's oldest competition to three wins with the Cheetahs result.
WP notched 10 tries in a bonus-point 64-15 victory in Welkom, following two defeats in a row, and speaking in a WP conference on Tuesday, Hlungwani emphasised the "the big picture" for the team while acknowledging the form of the Bulls.
"The Bulls are doing really well. It's a well-coached side with really experienced players, a really good team. It's going to be a massive challenge for us," he told reporters.
"At the moment, the big picture is making sure everybody catches up in terms of game time.
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"Saying that, as a coach, I want to see us win our lineouts, stop mauls, scrum and try and get penalties where we can and we must try and control our ball.
"That's the message, trying to keep it really basic. Control what we can control. Hopefully then the result will look after itself. We want to achieve those small details that we work on in training.
"I want JJ [Kotze] to chase a 100% lineout success rate this weekend. We want Jurie [Matthee] to be accurate with his kicking, whether that's for touch or for poles.
"It's about those small little jobs, we want them to do them well. Those are the things we will judge them on."
"We are very, very impressed and happy with how these guys are progressing. Saying that, I want to see how they progress against a very good team like the Bulls," Hlungwani added.
"I want to see the boys try and put their hand up against a very well organised, experienced and physical team. That's another level that I want them to go to, compete well against a very strong team."
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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