Province hail Jack of all trades
11 Jul 2009
Luke Watson expects Saturday’s Man of the Match Chris Jack to become more of a factor as the Currie Cup season unfolds.
In his debut match for Western Province, the All Blacks’ lock charged a Rory Kockott clearance and collected the rebound to score. Within 22 seconds of representing WP, Jack made his mark.
But that’s not where Jack’s influence ended. Together with Anton van Zyl, Jack was a dominant force at the lineout, as well as the breakdown and scrums. The Province eight outplayed one of the best packs in the competition and will take plenty of confidence into next week’s match against the Blue Bulls.
‘The Man of the Match award speaks for itself,’ WP captain Luke Watson told keo.co.za. ‘He had a magnificent game, but I don’t think you can appreciate how hard it is to rock up to practice for the first time on Monday, try to learn all the moves and calls, and then play against the defending Currie Cup champions on Saturday.
‘He had a massive impact and that try was just a part of it. At the lineout, he was a constructive force for us and a destructive force for them. I was impressed and I think going forward, he is going to make a massive impact.’
Watson also highlighted the performance of his pack as a unit. Van Zyl only joined the team ahead of the British & Irish Lions match and Jack started training on Monday, but the forwards managed to gel sufficiently to outmuscle the Sharks.
‘Even before I joined WP [in 2005], there was a perception that their forward pack wasn’t up to it, but we’ve begun to prove people wrong with some strong showings in the Super 14 and against the British Lions,’ said Watson. ‘We’ve carried that form through to the Currie Cup and we have to keep it going.
‘We have two young props who’ve done very well and Tiaan Liebenberg has been a big boost since returning from overseas. The forwards are making themselves heard.’
Coach Allister Coetzee said this was encouraging to see, especially since a number of first-choice players in Brian Mujati, Adriaan Fondse and Duane Vermeulen are unavailable through injury. However, Coetzee said they won’t get carried away with Saturday’s win over the Sharks.
‘I’m very pleased and this good start will be good for the players’ confidence, but it’s about maintaining that momentum into next week,’ he told this website. ‘There are a few things I thought we did badly, but I’m pleased to see we executed our game plan correctly.
‘At a wet Newlands, you are never going to play too much rugby. We did well to pin them back with some accurate kicking and our forwards did well to secure the ball. It’s all about getting our balance right and I think we did that today.
‘The Currie Cup is a marathon. We will take the four points, but there is plenty to work on and we’ll keep our feet on the ground.’
WP only have one injury concern after Saturday’ clash with fullback Joe Pietersen sustaining a corked thigh. At this stage, he seems likely to recover for next week’s trip to Loftus Versfeld.
By Jon Cardinelli
37 Comments
11 Jul 2009, 22:16 pm
46 is a dragon. Go away…
11 Jul 2009, 22:45 pm
Original title.
11 Jul 2009, 23:38 pm
Thought the backline showed promise , could it be Fleckies influence ? Certainly ran alot straighter with purpose. Still early days but a nice win.
11 Jul 2009, 23:41 pm
PROOOOVINCEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
12 Jul 2009, 00:00 am
Langenhoven and me Eat POEP & KAK.I POEP and KAK in His Pap and HE EATS IT and He POEP & KAK in My Pap and I EAT IT.In Namakwaland.
12 Jul 2009, 00:27 am
WP got Jacked up
12 Jul 2009, 00:31 am
#5 Thom Wertheim: no ****?
12 Jul 2009, 00:32 am
#6 SpringbokSarah:
Who do you think will meet us in the finals?
12 Jul 2009, 00:46 am
#8 Robzim: let them get there 1st!
12 Jul 2009, 01:38 am
8. robzim
boland
12 Jul 2009, 02:22 am
Lol! 1 win and we’re champs again, huh?! I’m loving all this early season confidence!
12 Jul 2009, 02:27 am
#5 Thom Wertheim:
You and Langkop must be two WP supporters then…..?
12 Jul 2009, 06:43 am
Can everybody that said the Sharks will win please stand up…
thats what I thought…
12 Jul 2009, 06:47 am
#11 wooden spoon:
were not champs yet, but winning the Champs in a crucial season opener is a big one to scalp.
12 Jul 2009, 09:30 am
almost drowned walking down to the ground with Justrugby,his wife and our 2 daughters…had cool seats in grandstand and sat there wet and freezing…..
After about 22 seconds forgot all about the cold though and really enjoyed the new WP attitude and a pack that hunted together and never took a backward step…..
Walking back to my car happy for the first time in a very long time that we are on the right track. A long way to go but a step in the right direction.
Sharks seriously short of quality backs….without Adi,Ruan and Frans they gonna struggle imo…..
Sat at Loftus will be the acid test….
12 Jul 2009, 09:58 am
To be honest WP should be beating the rest of the other franchises. They have more quality at the moment than the rest of us
#15 grant10:
Agree about us being short in the backs, some serious problems at the moment. Getting Hernandez will be a stop gap measure. I’d prefer it if we get somebody who will play in the S14 next year rather then spend mucho dinero on this mercenary for hire
12 Jul 2009, 10:05 am
apparently the deal with Hernandez will include the super 14 next year….but also need Waylon back ….
12 Jul 2009, 10:21 am
#17 grant10:
Still dont think its enough G10. Frans is going, where will Ruan play if we have Hernandez? We lack pace in the backline
12 Jul 2009, 10:21 am
man it was good to leave Newlands after a WP win for a change – total change in crowd attitude and atmosphere than the usual sour depression.
could not believe we watched the same pack that have been slaughtered these past few years.
score could have been a lot higher if they did not take wrong options so often and kicked away a few too many good balls with overlaps out wide.
when they started swinging the ball in the 2nd half the back line looked very dangerous – Flecky earning his keep already.
well done to Jack – massive influence and a good buy for province this year.
12 Jul 2009, 10:43 am
#15 grant10:
they may be short on backs, but they were beaten upfront…surprisingly.
12 Jul 2009, 10:46 am
Anyway I’m out, cheers all
12 Jul 2009, 11:14 am
Well done Province, helped a bit to be fair with a VERY pedantic ref and stupid fouls from the Sharks – meaning the ref called it both ways, but very stop start and the Sharks walked into stupid penalties – WP played the clever rugby yesterday.
Concerned the Sharks have no plan, just like the Boks. Backline weak, loosies nowhere except Deysel. Find a number 10 please someone.
12 Jul 2009, 11:49 am
How old is Anton van Zyl?
Thought he was the unsung hero yesterday.
12 Jul 2009, 12:38 pm
#22 goyougoodthing2:
well noted – the ref just would not let the game flow.
as soon as it went to ground, he blew for something. didn’t like to play advantage – and it got a bit irritating after a while.
12 Jul 2009, 12:59 pm
#24 stephen: Yeah, and what is with Skinstad harping on about how good he is? Seems to do that each match with someone, and usually I totally disagree with him. Odd comments from someone who I thought had rugby nouse.
Jackie Paper not the best, let it flow man!
12 Jul 2009, 14:18 pm
#25 goyougoodthing2: #5 Thom Wertheim:
Check this!
Sick.
12 Jul 2009, 15:13 pm
#26 Pietman: ??? WTF is that LOL
12 Jul 2009, 15:21 pm
#26 Pietman: Where’s the Report Button when one needs it… oi
12 Jul 2009, 17:15 pm
Had a good game Jack.Well done
But he looks half the athlete he once was.
NH has done him no favours.
The Sharks were abysmal in all facets..
In fact first week of CC was jeesh…kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!
12 Jul 2009, 17:25 pm
#29 mshiniwami: Yep, it wasn’t a great weekend of rugby on any level
12 Jul 2009, 19:55 pm
Jack is still the best lock in the world
I cant believe that he is playing for WP.
12 Jul 2009, 19:57 pm
Jack would walk ito any world team
You mamparas that diss him are morons
12 Jul 2009, 23:21 pm
“Van Zyl only joined the team ahead of the British & Irish Lions match and Jack started training on Monday, but the forwards managed to gel sufficiently to outmuscle the Sharks.”
IF EVER there was proof of just how useless Johan Muller is…
13 Jul 2009, 01:22 am
I guess it all goes down to coaching. Obviously the Kaaiwaais have better coaching techniques and it has shown on the field.
13 Jul 2009, 08:07 am
#31 Boksarenumber1: People said last week that Jack was over the hill , but i have never seen a player so excited to score a try …. He will definately be back to the Blacks soon … well done Chris
13 Jul 2009, 08:33 am
watch out province you are going to get agoogthrashing by the bulls YOU BETTER GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
13 Jul 2009, 16:18 pm
Jack’s inclusion is a step forward and backward for Western Province.Has the Curie Cup become such an obsession that
provinces must recruit forgotten All Blacks.
No wonder the Boks battled to put the BIL away.
The development of home bred NH-players is hampered by
the influx of SH-players.The movement of players
between provinces does nothing to strengthen south African
rugby and leads to delusional supporters.
If somebody had told me that the BIL would out score
the Boks try wise I would have questioned his sanity.
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