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Cape Town - It might be an old cliché, but WP captain Tiaan Liebenberg says their clash against the Cheetahs will be won up front.
"I know I say this week after week, but rugby games are first and foremost won up front and that is what we need to do against Free State on Saturday," Liebenberg told Die Burger newspaper.
Province were overpowered by an aggressive Bulls outfit last week and lost the battle in the tight loose. The men from Pretoria amassed 23 turnovers against their Cape rivals.
Therefore, the captain has stressed the importance of getting the first "hit in" on Saturday.
"After the Bulls scored their second try last week, we told ourselves it's nonsense that we just look at what our opponents do every week and then only react to the situation. We have to start well this week."
WP coach Allister Coetzee also acknowledged that they need to improve their physicality against the high-flying Free Staters.
"The first thing that teams want and do against us is to try and overwhelm us physically.
"The Free Staters are masters in that department. In Boom Prinsloo, Ashley Johnson and Lappies Labuschagne they have a burly loose-trio that will come at us," said Coetzee.
Coetzee also said the Cheetahs' impressive 53-32 win over the Sharks last week is an indication of the challenge facing the his team on Saturday.
"The Cheetahs are on a hot streak, and when you see what they did to the Sharks, you know what you're up against," Coetzee told SAPA.
"They've made a few changes, and that will make them field an even stronger one that mauled the Sharks last week.
"They are in a fortunate position where they are playing with a Super Rugby side, minus Heinrich Brüssow. The side they're bringing to Newlands is really an extension of their Super Rugby side.
"We'll have to guard against discipline because it was a problem against them earlier this season.
"We'll also have to make better decisions and try not to release the pressure we apply by giving away penalties."
The coach also resisted the temptation of playing hooker Deon Fourie at flank - an option he considered earlier in the week.
Nick Fenton-Wells keeps his place at flank, with Fourie staying on the bench. Coetzee feels a specialist in that position is key at this stage of the season.
"With the exception of Tertius Daniller, there's no other player in the team with a bigger presence at the breakdowns than Nick (Fenton-Wells)," Coetzee told Die Burger.
The game kicks-off at 17h05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Marcel Brache', 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 JD Moller
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Nizaam Carr, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Heinrich Steyl
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Pieter (Lappies) Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss.
"I know I say this week after week, but rugby games are first and foremost won up front and that is what we need to do against Free State on Saturday," Liebenberg told Die Burger newspaper.
Province were overpowered by an aggressive Bulls outfit last week and lost the battle in the tight loose. The men from Pretoria amassed 23 turnovers against their Cape rivals.
Therefore, the captain has stressed the importance of getting the first "hit in" on Saturday.
"After the Bulls scored their second try last week, we told ourselves it's nonsense that we just look at what our opponents do every week and then only react to the situation. We have to start well this week."
WP coach Allister Coetzee also acknowledged that they need to improve their physicality against the high-flying Free Staters.
"The first thing that teams want and do against us is to try and overwhelm us physically.
"The Free Staters are masters in that department. In Boom Prinsloo, Ashley Johnson and Lappies Labuschagne they have a burly loose-trio that will come at us," said Coetzee.
Coetzee also said the Cheetahs' impressive 53-32 win over the Sharks last week is an indication of the challenge facing the his team on Saturday.
"The Cheetahs are on a hot streak, and when you see what they did to the Sharks, you know what you're up against," Coetzee told SAPA.
"They've made a few changes, and that will make them field an even stronger one that mauled the Sharks last week.
"They are in a fortunate position where they are playing with a Super Rugby side, minus Heinrich Brüssow. The side they're bringing to Newlands is really an extension of their Super Rugby side.
"We'll have to guard against discipline because it was a problem against them earlier this season.
"We'll also have to make better decisions and try not to release the pressure we apply by giving away penalties."
The coach also resisted the temptation of playing hooker Deon Fourie at flank - an option he considered earlier in the week.
Nick Fenton-Wells keeps his place at flank, with Fourie staying on the bench. Coetzee feels a specialist in that position is key at this stage of the season.
"With the exception of Tertius Daniller, there's no other player in the team with a bigger presence at the breakdowns than Nick (Fenton-Wells)," Coetzee told Die Burger.
The game kicks-off at 17h05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Marcel Brache', 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Tertius Daniller, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 JD Moller
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Nizaam Carr, 19 Siya Kolisi, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Heinrich Steyl
Free State Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Boom Prinsloo, 6 Pieter (Lappies) Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Francois Uys, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss.
