'That was our worst performance': WP coach slams team after Lions defeat
REACTION: Western Province head coach Jerome Paarwater refused to make excuses for his team’s poor performance against the Lions in Johannesburg.
The Capetonians suffered their eighth defeat of the season when they went down 10-33 at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The result also crushed their slim hopes of making the play-offs. For that to have happened, they had to win their remaining games with a bonus point while hoping results elsewhere went their way.
Paarwater did not hold back when he was asked to assess his team’s performance against the Lions.
“I am not proud with the way that they performed,” he said.
“I think this was our worst performance.
“We lost a lot of games, but I am not happy with the team’s performance tonight [Saturday].
“I will make it clear that we had a strong team with some experience and we had guys who played in the URC, so I don’t think there are any excuses from our side.”
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#ICYMI: The Lions finally recorded their first Currie Cup win of the season with an emphatic 33-10 victory over Western Province at Ellis Park on Saturday. #CurrieCup #LIOvWP https://t.co/BiwlPZHPH4
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 29, 2022
The WP coach said his players did damage to their own “brand”.
“They are all disappointed in the way they played because at the end of the day they all want to play in the URC [United Rugby Championship],” said Paarwater.
“However, there is a Currie Cup to be played and that is where you make your name.
“The players know that they are a brand on their own.
“I also told them that it is not about the players or coaches. We are all in the same boat.
“Unfortunately, we [coaches] are not on the field.
“For talented guys to put up a performance like that, it’s not good for their own brand.”
Paarwater identified a few areas where his team fell short in Johannesburg.
“The defence wasn’t good in the first and we didn’t follow up properly on our kick-chase,” he added.
“Before the game, the guys were all hyped up, but in that first 10 minutes they were flat and at times we didn’t have enough cleaners at the breakdowns.
“It’s definitely not the way we want to play.
“I wish I knew the problem was tonight.”
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