Coetzee sounds Falcons warning
2008-07-17 10:50
Cape Town - Allister Coetzee has alerted his Western Province side about the threat posed by the so-called "smaller unions" such as the Falcons in this season's Absa Currie Cup rugby competition.
The WP coach was at pains to warn his side about the challenge that awaits them in Brakpan on Friday night when they play the Falcons.
"Let's forget about the whole concept of smaller unions," said Coetzee.
"It's going to be a hard game. You've just have to look at when the world champion Springboks play against Papua New Guinea - they (the Boks) have to play even harder. There will be so much confidence in the Falcons side after their great showing against the Sharks last week."
The Falcons went down 28-10 but the final scoreline did not reflect the massive test which the Sharks defence had been subjected to. As a result the Sharks has a considerably high tackle count in the match.
"The Falcons will be aware that we (WP) lost to Griquas, so they will be backing themselves at home," said Coetzee. "Under coach Rudy Joubert they have improved tremendously and if they can run other Currie Cup teams close, then we must heed the Griquas wake-up call."
'Challenge'
Coetzee said his team was lulled into a false sense of security after a good start against Griquas, another "smaller union", after their fylhalf Willem de Waal goaled early penalties.
"What we didn't realise was how hard the Griquas were going to come back at us, and that's something we must bear in mind in Brakpan," said Coetzee.
"You can expect the Falcons to challenge us for the full 80 minutes."
The WP sided flew out to Johannesburg on Thursday and will have a run later at Brakpan where they should relish the dry conditions, which Coetzee said will require his scrumhalf to arrive much quicker at the breakdown points.
"It's very different for us as we have been playing and training in wet conditions which causes the flow of play to be so much slower. Now on dry and harder surfaces, we'll have to be up for it."
- SAPA