All eyes on Bash
16 Oct 2009
The solitary Springbok in WP’s starting backline, Peter Grant, holds the key to an unlikely upset over the Bulls this Saturday.
Not renowned for his kicking exploits, Grant is in for the duel of his career when he lines up against Fourie du Preez and Morné Steyn. Territorial dominance is all-important, and the Bulls halfback pairing specialise in pinning the opposition in their own half.
WP backline coach Robbie Fleck feels Grant isn’t given due credit for his kicking contributions. Fleck said Grant will be able to match Du Preez and Steyn on Saturday.
‘Guys have been questioning Bash’s kicking ability since the start of the season, and he’s delivered week after week. It’s true that it’s not his real strength, and we’re hoping the game opens up where his attacking abilities will come to the fore.’
Province are relieved to be playing this game at Newlands and not at Loftus Versfeld, where the rarefied atmosphere allows the ball to travel further and saps the energy of visiting players in the latter stages.
It is because of this fact that Fleck believes Du Preez and Steyn’s impact should be reduced. WP are also aiming to pressurise the Bulls up front, and if they manage to dominate, the Bulls halfbacks will be further quelled.
‘Any flyhalf will feel the heat when his pack is retreating, and we’ll certainly look to apply that kind of pressure,’ said Fleck.
‘I remember Steyn did struggle earlier this year when the Boks were going backward. He has progressed a lot this season, while Fourie du Preez is the best scrumhalf in the world, but even they could be susceptible if they are playing on the back foot.
‘It’s good that this game is being played at Newlands, so Steyn won’t get the usual distance on those kicks.’
Everybody’s talking about the forward battle this Saturday, and while the Bulls are the favourites at the lineout, the hosts will feel confident at scrum time.
Both sides will look to play in their opponent’s half. Should WP realise their lofty ambition of forward and territorial dominance, they’ll still need to make their opportunities count. This is where Fleck sees Grant exercising his greatest strength.
‘Bash has been massive for us this season, he’s really taken on the senior role in the backs since Jean de Villiers left for Munster. He will have the experience of Frikkie Welsh to lean on, but Bash is calling the shots.
‘There are ways and means of breaking down that Bulls defence, their system certainly isn’t flawless. Our pack’s done very well this year, and if they can lay the platform then it’s a matter of executing and getting over that tryline. It’ll be hard work, but we’ve done it before and we’re capable of doing it again,’ said Fleck.
‘This backline has come a long way this season, but there’s no need to be content with only making it this far. We have to front up. If we fail, we can’t blame it on youth.’
The senior players had a meeting with the management on Monday and Fleck said he was pleasantly surprised with their attitude throughout that exchange. Grant, Luke Watson and the other seniors are confident ahead of this weekend’s semi-final, and like Fleck, they’re glad the media and rugby public view them as underdogs.
‘The pressure is all on the Bulls,’ said Fleck. ‘They’re the team laden with Springboks, they’re the team that has won a Super 14 title recently.
‘We’re playing at home where we’re unbeaten, so there are positives for us. There’s no pressure, only the pressure we place on ourselves to execute effectively.’
By Jon Cardinelli
171 Comments
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16 Oct 2009, 12:04 pm
#98 Ig:
And buy lots of chocolate.
16 Oct 2009, 12:05 pm
#91 WP Till I Die: Oh dear and I have just invited you to our sunny province! you a serial stalker and all
16 Oct 2009, 12:06 pm
#96 David:
My girlfriend is quite into herbology…
16 Oct 2009, 12:06 pm
#100 David: you sound like you have experience
16 Oct 2009, 12:07 pm
#101 Sharksgirl:
All lies I swear!
16 Oct 2009, 12:07 pm
#101 Sharksgirl:
Incidentally, am I correct in recalling that you might have been moving to Australia a while back?
16 Oct 2009, 12:10 pm
#43 justrugby: Oh please don’t start that again
16 Oct 2009, 12:10 pm
#93 WP Till I Die:ha ha ha why do you read thei drivel, i would never bore myself by sifting through their ramblings “ons moet gbs se gat se soen” “ek stem saam”…give me a break…
#83 st.a.t.w: now that is funny!
16 Oct 2009, 12:11 pm
#107 Transformation:
You’re right, I just get a hell of an amusement every now and again reading what they say about me!
16 Oct 2009, 12:11 pm
#97 katman:
maybe they have asthma….
16 Oct 2009, 12:12 pm
#107 Transformation:
It’s the amusement factor, Transformation – I love laughing at what they say about me!
16 Oct 2009, 12:13 pm
I keep getting moderated…
16 Oct 2009, 12:13 pm
#107 Transformation:
What can I say, I like laughing every now and again at what is said about me…
16 Oct 2009, 12:14 pm
#105 WP Till I Die: Yes we got all the paper work done and then decided better the devil you know then the one you don’t, so we staid back. Must say I have been quite happy with my decision so far.
16 Oct 2009, 12:15 pm
#110 WP Till I Die: You mean modder-ottered?
16 Oct 2009, 12:15 pm
#113 Sharksgirl:
I’m glad to hear! You still live in the most beautiful country with the most friendly people in the world!
16 Oct 2009, 12:16 pm
#111 Sharksgirl: Just a heap of money wasted!
16 Oct 2009, 12:16 pm
#114 katman:
Katman, see Kathmandu when you have a chance, it is a beautiful spot.
16 Oct 2009, 12:19 pm
#113 WP Till I Die: Precisely, when the paperwork came through and now it was time to get going, I started realising how much I really like Durban, how fun the people here are despite all our idiosincrasies (Sp?). Stupid things like going to Illovo beach and thinking oh wont be here for long, even the Pavilion became a tear jerker, so we decided moving just for a change of work (which was the main reason we were going) really wasn’t worth all the heart ache.
16 Oct 2009, 12:21 pm
#102 WP Till I Die:
as long as she isn’t a vegetarian…
16 Oct 2009, 12:27 pm
WPtillidie, you a Liberal recently converted Muslim!
Thats great news, now wheres my labarang and no more wine for you.
16 Oct 2009, 12:29 pm
#119 Slappes: Cool. Then he can proclaim a fatwa on their asses.
16 Oct 2009, 12:31 pm
Sharkgirl, Welcome back!
16 Oct 2009, 12:33 pm
#120 Slappes: Thank you Slappes!
16 Oct 2009, 12:33 pm
Katman,
16 Oct 2009, 12:34 pm
#121 Sharksgirl:
where’d you go?
16 Oct 2009, 12:37 pm
Sharkgirl, best decision of your life. Now we just have to work on your choice of rugby team and youll be a model citizen in no time
16 Oct 2009, 12:37 pm
#123 st.a.t.w: Actually not sure, but I was welcomed back so I had to thank the kind gentleman
16 Oct 2009, 12:39 pm
#124 Slappes: that will be a little harder to do! When it comes to the Sharks I become a little psycho
16 Oct 2009, 12:41 pm
#103 Ig:
I was also young, once.
16 Oct 2009, 12:41 pm
Peter Grant has held the key in so many games he played for WP or the Stormers and never has he delivered and won the game for his team when it really counted and it’s not gonna happen this Saturday and it gives me no pleasure to say it.
16 Oct 2009, 12:48 pm
#120 Slappes:
And no more Müchener Schweinshaxe or Eisbein for me!
I was wondering why my fellow passengers at the airport got all nervous when I started doing my travel prayers…
16 Oct 2009, 12:54 pm
#125 Sharksgirl:
that’s very nice of you
16 Oct 2009, 12:56 pm
Don’t know what to say anymore ! Province die CC kom weer
16 Oct 2009, 12:57 pm
#133 Andre_WP:
Oppas, nounou word jy beskuldig daarvan dat jy ‘n tipiese arrogante WP-ondersteuner is!
16 Oct 2009, 12:57 pm
#129 WP Till I Die:
Stop I am holding my sides!
16 Oct 2009, 13:12 pm
#20 Transformation: I was wondering where Ashley found himself. I now only realise that he has taken up Sheriff’s position, being the wingman to the Senior Blogger. Sheriff must be absolutely gutted.
16 Oct 2009, 13:14 pm
#136 John1976:
16 Oct 2009, 13:17 pm
Friends, fellow rogues, soothsayers, non-conformists, misfits and rabble rousers, I stand here before you with the fire in my heart and the dedicated faith of a red Disa flower. I hoop all will be well tomorrow in Hoopsland.
I hoop the supporters are going to be so magical that strange things happen to the Bulls. ( Like 5 red cards!!
). I hoop the streeptruie can doen a ding wat sing.
I hoop and hoop that the hoops pull through and punch above their weight.
Fanks for tuning in. Now where are my rizzlas?
16 Oct 2009, 13:17 pm
WPtid,
yeah and your new name: Mustapha Daliel. Oh and i forgot the about minor medical procedure?
16 Oct 2009, 13:20 pm
Jinx,
No potions to dispense o wise sage? I wanna spike the bulls energy drinks.
16 Oct 2009, 13:23 pm
#136 The Jinxta: Please gooi some more mojo there! We’ll need lots of that stuff tomorrow, BUT stranger things have happened …
16 Oct 2009, 13:23 pm
#139 Slappes:
Actually, I’ll have you know it’s Mustafa Kant.
And they cut to the chase, they cut it fine, they cut corners, they cut me some slack – and, to cut a long story short, I had to cut my losses.
16 Oct 2009, 13:27 pm
#140 WP Till I Die: howzit!
i see you were in durbs the other day?
never enter my stomping ground again without drinking the traditional offering please.
my kingdom is small, but it still has rules.
16 Oct 2009, 13:27 pm
#137 The Jinxta: djys mos garoek nê. daai boels gat vi djulle ‘n twiede poepol skrum.
16 Oct 2009, 13:27 pm
WPtid , lmao putting it bluntly?
16 Oct 2009, 13:28 pm
Dis n wp ding ,n lekke lekke wp ding os gaan nie worry nie want os gaan wen !
16 Oct 2009, 13:29 pm
#138 Slappes:
It’s done. Suzy went deep undercover a few days ago and has been monitoring the Bulls camp in a v-e-r-y below the radar way. She knows ex-acker-mi-ly what to do. Tonight at supper time she’ll increase the dose of anti- Bull-dust sprinkles on the teams “chow” at the hotel.
Tomorrow **** will fly as all hell breaks loose and WP will stride through dem Bulls with effervescent joy as the Mutha City goes bedonnered in paroxysms of pleasure and delight!
16 Oct 2009, 13:30 pm
#143 rangerman:
It was in March, for a wedding, rangerman – spent most of my time in ‘Toti and Winkelspruit!
16 Oct 2009, 13:30 pm
ag i dont mind who the sharks play IF we win tomorrow.
a streeptruie brigade in the tank would be just fine.
but will they travel in the numbers that the bulls fans do?
huh? will they?
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