Cape Town - Western Province won’t be as poor away from home as the Stormers were in Super Rugby this year.
This is the view of WP’s defence coach Norman Laker, who was speaking at a press conference at the team’s High Performance Centre in Bellville on Monday.
“It’s two separate competitions. Yes, there are many of the same players involved but the guys gained confidence in France which they brought into the Currie Cup. I can’t see why we would struggle away from home,” Laker said, as quoted by Netwerk24.
The Capetonians underwent a pre-season tour to France before the Currie Cup where they beat Narbonne 59-14 before going down 24-7 to a star-studded Montpellier.
WP got the defence of their Currie Cup crown under way in impressive fashion last Saturday when they outclassed the Free State Cheetahs 32-0 at a wet Newlands.
They will play their first away game of the competition on Friday when they face the Pumas at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The Stormers lost all their away games in Super Rugby this year but Laker is confident that WP will not suffer the same fate.
The Cape side will, however, be wary of the Pumas, especially after losing 22-12 at Mbombela Stadium last year.
The Pumas also made a strong start to the competition this year when they thumped Griquas 42-19 at home.
“They’re almost like the Bulls team of 2009 - very physical with good forwards. They can also be very dangerous when opportunities arise in the wider channels. They are mainly a team with a big pack of forwards and a clever kicking strategy,” Laker said of the Pumas.