WP expect 'Carlos-style' Kings
The Eastern Province Kings will make their return to the Currie Cup competition and it will be a grand occasion, according to Western Province coach Allister Coetzee.
Speaking in the build-up to the opening match of South Africa's premier domestic competition, when WP travel to Port Elizabeth on Friday, Coetzee said the Kings are an 'open book' to him.
Although it has been years the Kings' last appearance in the competition, the presence of All Black Carlos Spencer – as head coach – means Coetzee knows exactly what to expect.
The Province mentor, Coetzee, dismissed the notion that the Kings could be an unknown factor in PE on Friday.
"I have seen a lot of what the Lions did a few years ago, when Carlos [Spencer] was helping to coach the Lions up in Johannesburg," Coetzee told a media briefing at the team's training base in Belville.
"That is exactly the mindset they will have," the WP coach said, adding: "There will be a physical edge to their game, but they also play with a lot of width.
"They like to play an attractive brand of rugby that gets the crowd behind them. We have to be well prepared for the game."
Coetzee described the trip to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as a "massive game" first up.
"Every year people say this [the Currie Cup] competition going to be a watered down thing," the WP mentor said, adding: "It is not.
"The Kings have been added [to the competition], along with the Pumas and Griquas and it is tougher.
"Once you start thinking that those games will be easy, you have lost [the plot] already.
"It is going to be tough going to PE, there is a huge confidence in the Eastern Cape after being crowned unofficial Craven Week champions.
"They [the Kings] have had a great build-up to the competition. You have seen what they have done [in pre-season games] to teams like the Bulls and Sharks. Also, they had the game against the touring Welsh side [in June].
"I have watched all those games. They also pulled their players out of the Vodacom Cup [competition] to prepare for the Currie Cup – they will be well prepared.
"If you go down there [PE] thinking it will be an easy game, you will be on the receiving end of a hiding and be embarrassed.
"Our planning have been focused just on this game, to ensure we can get off to a good start in this competition."
Coetzee said that because in the Currie Cup competition there are no mid-season breaks where you can re-assess and re-evaluate things, you have to hit the road running.
