Shimlas need to wisen up - coach
“We need to learn to adjust to the referee’s interpretations.” Those were the words of FNB Shimlas head coach, Jaco Swanepoel, after his team’s 20-23 loss to the University of Cape Town in Monday’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture.
One of the reasons for Shimlas being on the wrong end of the scoreline, was the high amount of penalties they conceded at the breakdown point at Groote Schuur.
“We really worked hard on our breakdown work at training last week and the players started performing well there. But unfortunately the referee interpreted it differently (on the night) and we were unable to adjust it,” said Swanepoel.
“Although it went better after we made some fine-tuning, it takes some time to get accustomed to.”
Shimlas conceded eight first-half penalties as UCT enjoyed 70% of the possession on the night, which forced Shimlas to make loads of tackles. Eventually the pressure told and hooker Gert Erasmus was sent to the bin.
But Swanepoel feels it was not a lack of discipline, but rather the players struggling to adjust to the referee.
Even though Shimlas enjoyed a 7-6 half-time lead, it was not a big enough advantage, with UCT outscoring them in the second half en route to clinching the match.
“We could’ve used the wind better when it was at our backs, but we struggled to achieve continuity in our play (at that stage),” Swanepoel explained.
“In the last 40 minutes we were forced to carry the ball a lot more to enable us to get territorial advantage,” he added.
“If we played in the first half as we did in the second, things could easily have panned out differently.”
According to Swanepoel, his Shimlas charges lacked the ability to put their opponents to the sword, with him saying: “We did everything we should’ve to win the game. Sadly though, we were unable to put that final nail into the coffin.”
Swanepoel praised his team’s forwards for the manner in which they took the game to the Ikey Tigers – especially in the second half when they played a lot of the rugby.
“The forwards are really starting to play as a unit and even the reserves make an impact the moment they take to the field,” he said.
“A player like (tighthead) Drew van Coller doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. He plays the full 80 minutes every week and gives everything for Shimlas.”
By Ruan Bruwer
