After a bruising defeat at the hands of the Bulls, Dewaldt Duvenage assures fans that Western Province is primed for a mighty comeback against the Lions this Saturday at Ellis Park. The initial clash saw Province outplayed at Cape Town Stadium, where they conceded six tries, bungled the set-piece, and saw three of their starters, including both locks, banished to the sin bin in a rather tumultuous first half.
Duvenage didn't mince words about the team's rocky start. "We can't beat around the bush," he declared. "In the first half, we only had the ball three times. Our discipline was off, and our set-piece work was sloppy. We threw 10 debutants into the mix. It’s crucial we learn and fix our errors. Luckily, the first game put everything under the microscope for us."
"The Bulls was a tough game, but bouncing back is in Western Province’s DNA. Every game is different. We are going to keep our cards close to our chest going into the Lions match."
The Lions, meanwhile, are coming off a resounding 46-5 victory over the Sharks XV, having racked up seven tries at their home ground. Duvenage praised Junior Boks flyhalf Kyle Smith, who notched a try, nailed two conversions, and slotted two penalties. Smith's synergy with Damian Markus and Luke Burger was particularly noteworthy, despite the limited ball play.
"Kyle Smith had a brilliant game," Duvenage continued. "He organized the attack and his kicking game was on point. With Tristan Leyds and the return of Jurie Mathee from concussion, we're well-stocked at flyhalf."
Burger, reveling in his first midfield outing with Markus, is optimistic about their budding partnership. "It was my first game with Damian. He’s incredible with the ball and fantastic at pulling defenders, which gives me more space and time to make plays. With more game time together, we can only improve," Burger explained.
As Western Province looks to refine their gameplay and strengthen team dynamics, the upcoming match against the Lions is more than just a game—it's a chance for redemption and a statement of resilience. Will this be the bounce-back that Duvenage promises? Saturday will tell.