Dobson: Happy but can improve
Western Province head coach John Dobson was happy with his team's Currie Cup opening win over Griquas in Kimberley, but he has highlighted a few areas for improvement.
The defending champions recorded a 43-19 win over Griquas at their Griqua Park home ground on Friday, having led by 24-7 at half-time.
Western Province scored three tries in each half, with flying wing Seabelo Senatla coming away with a try double and the visitors’ other tries coming from No.8 Nizaam Carr, right wing Dillyn Leyds, flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe and skipper Juan de Jongh.
"To open with a bonus point win in Kimberley is as good a result as anything," said Dobson, who presided over his first Currie Cup match on Friday.
"I am happy, but we have a bit to work on."
When asked what the team had to work on, Dobson told said: "Our discipline was not good at all. [But] it won’t happen again…the fact that we played with 14 men for 20 minutes was not ideal at all.
"I thought our new-look pack did very well. We had a 100 percent record at line-out time and we scrummed well and I thought the backline looked hungry to play some classic Province rugby.
"I think we can improve a lot, however, another area we need to look at is our defence – we can get off the line a bit quicker I would say."
In other good news for Dobson and his coaching team, hooker Bongi Mbonambi – who was in doubt during the lead-up to the Griquas clash with a hamstring injury – got through 40 minutes in Kimberley before being replaced by debutant Marius Fourie.
"Bongi gave us a good 40 minutes and Marius acquitted himself well when he came on. We will obviously see on Monday how Bongi has reacted to the match."
Western Province will host the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands next Saturday, with both the Under-19 and Under-21 teams playing in curtain-raisers beforehand.
