The price Province paid for 'horror' show
REACTION: Western Province, apart from being winless in the Currie Cup and in a tight race to make the play-offs, suffered some cruel injury setbacks.
Province coach John Dobson said his team was “massacred” injury-wise during the heartbreaking 19-22 loss to the Lions at Ellis Park at the weekend.
Lions fullback Tiaan Swanepoel slotted a penalty on the final hooter as the Lions pipped WP, after they trailed 6-19 at one stage.
However, it is not so much the loss – which do leave the Cape Town team in a vulnerable position – but rather the injuries they suffered that could come back to haunt them.
“We got absolutely massacred injury-wise during the game,” Dobson said.
“We had three or four concussions, we have a bloke or two in hospital.
“At half-time, I think there were two fit forwards of the original starting eight.
“[Starting hooker] Bongi [Mbonambi] and [replacement] Scarra [Siyabonga Ntubeni] and got knocks,” the coach said, adding: “I’m not sure what the diagnoses are.
“Neethling Fouche is in hospital with a concussion.
“[Lock] Salmaan Moerat got concussed.
“Trokkie [Juarno] Augustus was concussed and has a neck strain.
“[Wing] Seabelo Senatla injured his MCL.”
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Dobson said the players struggling with concussion will have to go through the recovery protocols.
“Neethling is seriously concussed,” he said, adding that Moerat might have a chance to face the Pumas in their Round Three encounter at Newlands this coming Friday.
Captain Siyamthanda Kolisi described the loss as a “horrible” feeling.
“You work so hard for 79 minutes – or 60/70 minutes,” the skipper said.
“Then small things, like not following the game plan, lets you down.
“We had a plan and as soon as we stepped off the plan that’s when they took advantage.
“Even though we didn’t play as well as we wanted to, we were still in control. You are leading 19-6, which doesn’t happen often, and then you throw it away like that.
“It honestly breaks you.
“We have another game next week where we’re going to have to pick ourselves up and keep going, but it’s really horrible losing like that, two weeks in a row.”
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