Manie Libbok. Photo: Gallo Images.
Blue Bulls coach Pote Human was crestfallen that his side, instead of playing conservative rugby in a Loftus Versfeld quagmire and trying to force mistakes, had tried to speed up play and try risky attacking moves, causing them to make a plethora of errors which Western Province capitalised on with some alacrity.
A heavy downpour just before kick-off made conditions extremely difficult, and then more torrential rain, along with lightning, caused the match to be abandoned at half-time, by which time Western Province had gained an unassailable 34-7 lead.
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The visitors were given the victory, condemning the Blue Bulls to fourth place and a visit to Newlands next weekend to take on the defending Currie Cup champions again in the semifinals.
“It was very disappointing. We said before the game that we did not want to play a lot of rugby, we wanted to get there down their side of the field and then force errors from them. It was the same plan that they ended up doing to us.
“We didn’t play the conditions well, they were the same for both teams, but we made too many mistakes because we tried long passes, offloads and quick lineouts. And the scrums were really decisive, they really came for us there,” Human said after the embarrassing performance.
Western Province coach John Dobson said the threat of the game being called off at halftime obviously really focused the minds of his team, who needed one point to ensure they would finish top of the table and be the hosts of the final if they get that far.
The acquisition of the bonus point for four tries just before the break ensured that Western Province will return to Cape Town happy whatever the weather.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, we knew we needed four tries and in what we heard may be just one half of rugby, and to do that in those conditions was absolutely incredible.
“I asked for absolute intensity from the guys, and they did what had to be done. We’d heard they wanted to target Wilco Louw and he was an angry little tighthead with a diesel engine when he ran on to the field,” Dobson said.
The psychological effects of the hammering could also be of great value for Western Province in next weekend’s semifinal.
“They made a lot of wet-weather mistakes and we totally dominated territory. We’ve also made it very daunting for the Blue Bulls to come back to us next weekend,” Dobson said.
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