Does Fourie hold the key?
Deon Fourie will have a crucial role to play for Western Province against the Lions this weekend, and not just because he has taken the captaincy back.
Fourie has been the ultimate utility player for Province this season, playing at openside flank instead of his preferred position of hooker, and his battle at the breakdown with Lions flanks Cobus Grobbelaar and Jaco Kriel this weekend will be one of the key subplots in the Currie Cup semifinal in Johannesburg.
Having 'filled in' on the side of the scrum all season, Fourie's understanding of the position has developed quickly, and his impact on the deck was clear to see in the crushing victory over the Cheetahs last week.
However, the Lions loose trio should pose stiffer competition at the breakdown this weekend, and Fourie understands that the stakes will be raised even higher given the fact that the losing team will be knocked out.
He explained: "It is a semifinal, there is different pressure on you, one mistake can cost you a final so I think the decisions at the rucks will be much more important."
The Cape outfit have endured some disappointing play-off results in recent years, with both the Stormers and Western Province falling short in knock-out games, and Fourie said that those experiences have underlined how important discipline will be this weekend.
"The biggest thing that has let us down in past finals has been our discipline, and when after 20 minutes you are already nine to twelve points down.
"I think that has cost us some semifinals so it is about getting that balance right and just to get in the game in the first 20 minutes is the key," he said.
Fourie said that whilst the loss of Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker and Tiaan Liebenberg is a major blow, he believes that his team's collective experience of the pressures of play-off rugby will help give them an edge on Saturday.
"We have still got a couple of Springboks that can make a big difference and the guys who have come in have shown through the whole Currie Cup that they can step up to the plate.
"It is one game there, it is semifinals – win or you are out so anything can happen on the day.
"I think we have been in this situation for the last three years and most of the guys that are in the team have experienced it so I think they will give sound advice on the day.
"Play-offs are funny games and it is not always the best team that wins so hopefully we are on that side again," he said.
Whilst experience will obviously be important on Saturday, Fourie's decision-making in a position that he has had to learn through the course of this season could well have a bigger influence on whether Province manage to beat the defending champions on their home turf.
By Michael de Vries
