WP, Lions must overcome themselves to claim victory

THE Western Province and the Sigma Lions find themselves in the same sinking boat and such is the disharmony within their squads at the movement that you could snidely remark that they are all rowing in different directions.

This Currie Cup, hampered by Covid-19, cancellations, postponements and appeasements to the British and Irish Lions, has not been an easy one to play or watch and through that discord, it is the WP and the Lions who have fallen most out of tune.

The WP have won only two of their five games thus far, losing to the Lions, the Griquas and most recently the Free State Cheetahs in a performance that was universally panned by supporters and pundits. Their most impressive victory, a first round triumph over the Bulls, was also somewhat diminished by the fact that the Pretoria-based team they faced on the day was very much a second-string side, the A-Team in Italy at the time.

The Lions, meanwhile, are onefrom-four, having registered only that victory over the WP, losing to the Pumas and Griquas, while the recent socio-economic upheaval in the country mothballed their match against the Cheetahs. Today’s encounters against the Pumas and Bulls, respectively, both represent a must-win scenario for Province and the men from Joburg.

The WP, on paper, might have it easier, such is the narrative perpetuated when playing against a “smaller” union, but truth be told the Pumas will be no pushovers in Nelspruit (kick-off 1pm). Jimmy Stonehouse’s team is second in the standings on 15 points, having dispatched the Lions and Griquas, while narrowly succumbing to the Cheetahs.

Their game is built on a powerful scrumming effort, and taking advantage of their oppositions’ frailties, and right now the WP have many of those. Against the Cheetahs, much like the Lions in their 41-31 loss to the Griquas, the Capetonians enjoyed dominance in almost every department – possessions, territory, meters made, defenders beaten, line carries, passes, and rucks won. They had a 100% line-out and scrum success – again reflecting the dominance of the Lions in those areas during the Griquas encounter in Johannesburg – and yet still lost 38-21.

Both the WP and Lions’ execution in attack, defence off the line and off the breakdown was sorely lacking and it ultimately conspired against them. If it were a once off, then matters would not be so dire, but John Dobson’s and Ivan van Rooyen’s outfits have carried these shortcomings, these noticeable and paradoxical performances, with them throughout this season. The same mistakes, errors in judgement and player fault are being repeated week in and week out.

The Lions have the tougher assignment today at Loftus Versfeld (kick-off 3pm). Jake White has selected a scary looking matchday 23, one that has Cornal Hendriks, former Lions players Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe in the midfield, Springbok flyhalf Johan Goosen, captain Marcell Coetzee and loose-forward partner Elrigh Louw in the starting XV.

On current form and confidence, no matter how brave the Joburgers are, it will be a difficult victory to secure. The added pressure of a short turnaround will not help matters either. But secure it they must if they are to kick-start their Currie Cup campaign. The same can be said of the WP.

The ship is sinking, and both teams will have to hope that the four days they have had to correct their shortcomings will have been enough to bail them out of the most demanding of times.