CAPE TOWN - Western Province attack coach Dawie Snyman says they will have to cut down Curwin Bosch and Louis Schreuder’s space when they face the Sharks in the Currie Cup final in Durban this weekend.
Province of course need no briefing on what Bosch in particular can do, and the 20-year-old’s big boot isn’t the only thing the Cape side need to keep an eye on at the Shark Tank. But again, it’s something that WP know all too well.
“If you give Louis and Curwin space they can really dictate a game, not only with their attacking, but with their kicking game as well,” Snyman said.
“We have to be aware of that and not give them the space that they’re comfortable with. If they get on the front foot, they can put us under pressure.”
Having successfully controlled a number of big Super Rugby and Currie Cup games, Snyman also believes that the young Bosch will be able to soak up the pressure that comes with a Currie Cup final.
“I think Curwin has played enough high-level rugby that the occasion will not get to him, he’ll be ready for that and he’ll make good decisions,” he said.
“I don’t think the pressure will get to him, so it’s just about how much pressure we can apply as a team in terms of taking away his space or putting his forwards under pressure so that he doesn’t get the quality ball that he needs.”
Regarding their own backline, Snyman also said they don’t want to break their combinations ahead of the weekend’s match, and the assistant coach hinted that it will be more of the same in terms of WP's backline for the Durban date.
Against the Golden Lions at the weekend, Robert du Preez and Dewaldt Duvenage were the starting halfback pairing, while Dillyn Leyds started at fullback, with Seabelo Senatla and Ruhan Nel out wide. Huw Jones and EW Viljoen started in midfield, but injury to Viljoen saw Nel move to outside centre later in the match, while Damian Willemse came off the bench and featured at fullback, with Leyds moving to the wing.
They do, however, have to make an injury-enforced change in midfield, and Nel is likely to come into the No 12 jersey.
And when asked if Willemse would come into the starting lineup, Snyman could only guarantee that the 19-year-old would definitely travel to Durban.
“We want to have guys specialise in their positions. Damian can help us out at either (No) 15 or 10. We don’t want to break combinations, there are guys that have been playing next to each other, like your No 9, 10 and 15 that have formed good combinations over the last three weeks. So we want to keep them as close as possible,” Snyman said.
And when asked what will be the game-winner on Saturday, Snyman revealed: “It’s a final so it’s going to come down to a few points and who’s more accurate on the day. The team that takes their opportunities will be the team that wins.”