Coetzee: WP 'our own worst enemies'
Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:34
Western Province lost their Currie Cup match to the Cheetahs at Newlands on Friday because they failed to hold onto the ball, conceded penalties through indiscipline, and played in the wrong areas of the field.
This was the summation of WP head coach Allister Coetzee after his team had scored three tries to two but lost 29-24 - their second consecutive defeat.
"Credit to the Cheetahs, they played well," said Coetzee, "but once again we were our own worst enemies."
The coach said the loss was "very disappointing - and to lose at Newlands hurts even more".
"We made a lot of mistakes in the first half which really took the pressure off the Cheetahs and put ourselves under pressure," he added, lamenting his players' failure to retain possession.
"Basically, we let ourselves down badly in the first half by not holding onto the ball. Their rush defence put us a bit under pressure and maybe that's why we turned the ball over so many times.
"We didn't do too well against the rush defence on the outside. Maybe we tended to string a few passes together instead of attacking the line directly and bringing a couple of guys on the cutback.
"The Cheetahs did their homework well, putting us under pressure outside Willem [de Waal]. We need to look at that and improve on that."
The coach was happy with the improved ball retention in the second half but unhappy with conceding the penalties which allowed Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom to "keep the scoreboard rolling for them". This had lifted the Free Staters' confidence, Coetzee felt, and "once again we had to play catch-up rugby".
He added that his team had deviated from their systems at times, playing in the wrong areas of the field. Under pressure it was important to retain possession and play the game in the right areas - "and that was what we didn't do".
Coetzee was adamant that he was making no excuses for the defeat but did say it had been a disrupted week with the team having been selected and then having to be changed once the returning Springboks were released - and losing outside centre Tim Whitehead to injury at the captain's practice on Thursday had been disruptive too.
But the coach was positive about the rest of the season.
"I've got no doubt in my mind that there's a lot of character in the side, like they showed in the second half. There's still a long way to go but we have to make sure our game discipline is there like it was in the first few games.
"There were a lot of opportunities we didn't take - a wrong line here and a wrong decision there. It's all a learning experience for the players. We've got to take those lessons on board and move forward. We've got to make sure we get back to winning ways next week against the Lions."
Coetzee concluded: "I'm very positive that there's going to be a good fight-back from us. Two losses in the competition is definitely not a train smash."
Province captain Anton van Zyl said over-confidence had not played a role in the defeat.
"We are bitterly disappointed in ourselves," said the skipper. He believed the team had trained well and prepared well.
"There was no way we were going to take the Cheetahs lightly," he said. "They always bring a different challenge whenever you play them."
Van Zyl added: "In the last few weeks we've put ourselves under so much pressure. We can keep the ball for 11 or 12 phases and then just give it away through an unforced error, thereby putting the opposition into space."
He said the players prided themselves on their defence but it was difficult to defend off turnovers since systems were then not in place.
But he was confident Province would raise their game. "We need to get back as soon as possible and next week against the Lions is a very good place to start," a determined Van Zyl concluded.
By Len Kaplan
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