VIDEO: Griquas counting the cost of opening round loss
Griquas this week were counting the cost of their opening round Currie Cup loss to the Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs put down a massive marker, beating last year’s losing finalists Griquas 42-19 in the season-opener in Kimberley last Friday.
However, injuries to two players from the starting XV have added to their concerns.
Griquas assistant coach Barend Pieterse confirmed the injuries ahead of their Round Two outing.
Centre Sango Xamlashe suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Cheetahs and will not feature in the encounter with the Sharks in Kimberley this coming Sunday.
“It is not a serious injury,” Pieterse said, adding: “We don’t want to take a chance and we have depth at centre.”
Prop Janu Botha is sidelined with a concussion this week.
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As head coach Pieter Bergh said in his immediate post-match reaction, Pieterse spoke about the ‘lack of physicality’ that proved to be costly for the Kimberley outfit.
“Their work at the breakdown was superior,” he said, adding: “Also some silly mistakes [by Griquas].”
He said, despite having lost a few players, they still have a good squad.
“Pieter [Bergh] has done a very good job in retaining the players we wanted.
“In a perfect world, it would have been great to start with a win.
“However, as I said, the [lack of] physicality is something that should not have happened.”
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