Kobus all smiles
17 Jul 2006
Vodacom Western Province coach Kobus van der Merwe is grinning like a Cheshire Cat at the moment, as his underdog team continues to go from strength to strength.
When asked the rhetorical yet valid question of how he felt after the 20-13 victory over Free State, he just chuckled and retorted, “Do you really want to know?”
The man who was vilified in the media after the Vodacom Stormers poor showing earlier this year could hardly contain himself, but managed to shift the focus onto his captain, Luke Watson. It seems that the longer Jake White turns a blind eye to his form the longer WP will benefit.
“A lot of the credit for this win needs to go to Luke’s captaincy. In fact, we have put in a new clause in his contract that states that he may not play Springbok rugby until the end of the domestic season,” he joked.
He did, however, stress the need for Province to stay grounded. “It’s still a very long season, so we won’t be getting too excited yet. Look how Griquas beat the Sharks in Kimberely. We’re playing the Valke this week and it will be tough up there.”
The coach was at a loss for the turn around in the Cape Town side’s fortunes. “It feels nice to get it right for a change. Since the Vodacom Super 14, we’ve grown as a team and the coach has learnt a lot,” said Van Der Merwe.
Watson was also in a vibrant mood when he commented on the win. “I was a great supporter of WP rugby even before I went to play for the Sharks,” he said. “I loved the running, creative rugby they played. We are now starting to play the same type of rugby and moving away from the conservative.”
During Saturday’s game WP put together an enterprising move that spanned the length of the field, but in the end lock Gerrie Britz could not hold the final pass. Watson highlights this moment as a great reflection of how well they are playing and how close they are as a team.
“We are enjoying our rugby, and we are actually smiling on the field. I mean, when Gerrie knocked that ball on, I ran up to him and gave him a high-five. I high-fived him not because he knocked it on, but because he was there to take the final pass. That was what was important to me. Even though he is a lock, he was right up there.”
By Jon Cardinelli
83 Comments
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17 Jul 2006, 13:42 pm
Staal – I thought you were a Bulls supporter with class.
17 Jul 2006, 13:43 pm
You guys dont get it …. Hougie dont kick away possesion … he kicks far and he kicks out.
17 Jul 2006, 13:45 pm
Hilke – I would prefer a more cautiously optimistic approach.
Two swallows and all that.
17 Jul 2006, 13:46 pm
Windhoek – I agree – Saturday was not the time to rate Spies…
17 Jul 2006, 14:05 pm
Dronk Bobbejaan
WP gaat weereens die blo kak uit julle hardloop. Al om Hougaard. Ha ha ha
17 Jul 2006, 14:51 pm
CC word nie in Julie gewen nie. WP het 2 games gewen , dis al.
Ek stem wel saam dat Watson vir die Bokke moet speel.
Verbeel ek my, of het WP Saterdag net soveel as Cheetas geskop. Het Wp nie juis vir Grant gedrop ( omdat hy nie kan skop nie ) vir Naas ‘n skoppende loskakel nie
17 Jul 2006, 15:04 pm
Lees stats:
Drieë Punte Verskil
Cheetas 27 145
Bulls 14 43
Sharks 15 31
Wp ( the best running team in the world )
11 16
17 Jul 2006, 15:24 pm
CB
LOL, WP ondersteuners is nie soos die Bull suporters wat glo die CC is hulle s’n en niemand anders s’n nie. Drie weke terug nog het niemand buite die Kaap die WP ‘n kans gegee om enigsens die semi’s te maak nie. Ons gaan dalk nie die kopie die jaar wen nie, maar ons gaat ook nie op ons laat trap en laat name noem nie. Oor jou stats…die WP het al teen aldrie die top spanne gespeel. Twee gewen en een in beseringstyd verloor. Die seisoen is nog lank, so daai driee kolum gaat nog vol word.
En los vir Luke waar hy is totdat die Bokke ‘n nuwe coach kry.
17 Jul 2006, 15:28 pm
Capebull,
Those stats, if interpreted in a simple manner, sound impressive. But dig deaper. To explain those stats, you just have to look at the teams WP played against: Sharks, Bulls, Free State. Three of the strongest in the competition. Ofcourse they would not have scored as many tries against these teams. These were all tight games. None of the other three teams in the top 4 played the other top 3. Lets talk after the first round, china.
17 Jul 2006, 15:35 pm
capebulldust is HURTING
17 Jul 2006, 15:38 pm
Le pou
en Pumas?
17 Jul 2006, 15:41 pm
Suparugby
Is jy dom of wat? Ek praat top 4 teams.
17 Jul 2006, 15:42 pm
le pou
Jy sal nie eers hier wees na die first round nie. Jy is net hier as julle wen.
17 Jul 2006, 15:48 pm
Dis maar swaar as ‘n mens nou teen die **** van Kaapstad gaat staan en verloor. Praat maar lekker. Dis nou al twee weke wat julle knuckledraggers lekker kramp kry.
17 Jul 2006, 15:57 pm
le pou
Darem erken jy jy en jou span is ***! Gaan terug na jou kamer vol Elton John posters
17 Jul 2006, 16:03 pm
Le Fou , jy’s reg hulle het reeds teen die sg beter spanne gespeel , en gesukkel om Pumas te klop, laat Wp maar eers die rondte klaar maak voor ons van ‘n herlewing kan praat.
PS Cheetas het ook al teen 2 groter spanne gespeel.
Net die Bulls wat nog net teen swak spanne gespeel het.
17 Jul 2006, 16:06 pm
Shame supa,
word wakker uit jou ou verkrampte wereldjie. Dis julle wat aanhou praat van ****. Daarin steek seker iets.
17 Jul 2006, 16:12 pm
Point taken Capebull,
but the lions are not top 4 (sorry Grrr…)
17 Jul 2006, 16:34 pm
Hey Suppa, sit die Hoffmeyer in die agtergrond af dit mors met jou brein…Of is jy ook een van sy kinders?
17 Jul 2006, 16:35 pm
Moenie worry nie Le Fou. Hulle is nog seer na die 15-10, maar wag maar binnekord sal daar nie meer na die wp verwys word as *** nie.
17 Jul 2006, 16:37 pm
Drunkmonkey, as jy nie Hougaard se stalker is nie dan weet ek nie…Praat van ***.
17 Jul 2006, 16:45 pm
Are these blue hippo(bulls) supporters retarded?
WP is terug en ons wag vir julle op nuweland.
Overheard on the field (WP v BB),
Frikkie: Moenie worry nie Jp, ek cover hom…
-Whoooooosh-
JP : Tekkel!,tekkel hom!
Frikkie: JP! waars hy nou?
JP : agter die doelyn.
17 Jul 2006, 16:50 pm
Hey supa what were you and stan up to last week in Tshwane? You guys did’nt by any chance do some statue painting???
Liefling Supa
Ek is jammer om jou in kennis te stel dat steve H nie jou pa is nie…maar moenie worry nie hy gaan n plan maak en saam met jou ma trou!
17 Jul 2006, 18:41 pm
Slappes, LMFAO!
17 Jul 2006, 18:51 pm
Die helfde van die Bull surporters weet blybaar nie wie hul pa’s is nie, en sommige het twee pa’s.
18 Jul 2006, 08:48 am
Spokie
Jy en Le pou n item?
18 Jul 2006, 08:59 am
Suparugby…(verwys jou naam na die once mighty bulle?)
Los nou jou obsessie met alles *** my maat. Gaan haal liewer jou groot broer Stan. Jy volg mos als wat hy se. O, en probeer dink vir jouself.
18 Jul 2006, 09:34 am
Le Pou
Los jou obsessie met Spokie. o ja, ek is nie jou maat nie.
18 Jul 2006, 09:35 am
Slappes
Verwys jou naam na jou gesig wat soos slapk!k lyk?
18 Jul 2006, 09:56 am
Super,
kry ‘n brein…maat. Jy wys net meer en meer hoe verkramp, kinderagtig en net plein stupid jy is.
18 Jul 2006, 12:01 pm
Le pou
Kry n lewe en n ander maar, want ek is nie jou maat nie. Twyfel anyway of jy ooit n maat sal kry…gaan probeer maar van jou ander *** kenisse
18 Jul 2006, 12:06 pm
My maat supa,
kom ons gaan fight op die anner thread, hierie een is al klaar. Bisous
18 Jul 2006, 12:20 pm
le fou
hehe Moet erken, buddy, die thread het sy beste tyd reeds gehad-baie soos JVDW (het nie gedink jy gaan weer kom lees nie). Waar gaan ons stry?
Bisous?
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