Kimberley not a Griquas ally
Griquas' failure to make a meaningful effort to play rugby has been the biggest focal point for coach Pote Human this week.
Human, speaking to this website ahead of Griquas' Round Three Currie Cup encounter with Western Province in Kimberley on Saturday, admitted they can't rely on home ground advantage to get them past the defending champions.
After an encouraging opening to the competition, a 32-30 win over the Sharks in Durban, Griquas slumped to a bitterly disappointing 9-15 loss to the Blue Bulls in a tryless encounter in Pretoria last week.
"We didn't turn up and we didn't play," was the candid assessment of Human, when asked about what went wrong at Loftus Versfeld.
But more significantly is the massive improvement it will require ahead of the arrival of Province in Kimberley this week.
Human said the defending Currie Cup champions, still unbeaten after a draw (24-all) with the Bulls and a win (15-14) over the Free State Cheetahs, will come with another "huge onslaught" this week.
"We may be at home, but Kimberley won't win the game for us," Human told this website, adding: "We will have to play very well to win."
He said that while Griquas defended "very well" at Loftus last week, they didn't play any constructive rugby in a game in which neither team scored a try.
"We didn't attack, we didn't carry the ball in hand," the Griquas mentor said.
"That is a concern, we won't win games if we don't play."
It won't get any easier for Griquas this week, as they have to overcome one of the competition's most miserly defences..
"We are aware of just how good Western Province's defence is and we'll have to make some good judgment calls – decide about what we want to do, where on the field."
Last year Griquas played a high-paced, expansive game that saw them score 28 tries in the 10-week competition – which was more than the Golden Lions, Blue Bulls and Cheetahs.
However, that free-flowing game has not been on display this season.
"The last two games we scored just two tries, both by the forwards," Human said of the five-pointers from Carel Greeff and Marnus Schoeman in the opening match against the Sharks.
"For us it is a big concern," he said, adding: "We are working hard on that and see how we can adjust on Saturday ."
By Jan de Koning
