The last time Western Province have won a major competition in South Africa was back in 2001 when they beat the Sharks to win the ABSA Currie Cup. The 5 years after this saw them struggle to find any sort of form or make it to the semi-finals. Since 2007 with Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee at the helm things have changed.


5 years ago the Stormers/WP struggled to reach the top half of the Super Rugby log and were lucky if they reached the semi-finals of the Currie Cup. Then Rassie took over as coach and soon handed the reigns to Allister as he become director of coaching. Together they formulated a 5 year plan that would see the WP/Stormers win at least one major trophy. 4 years later in 2010 they reach both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup finals but lost out to the Bulls and Sharks.




This season saw them reach the semi finals of both competitions but they could just not deliver the goods and make it to the finals. True they can claim to be the only SA team that played in both 2010 finals and both 2011 semi-finals, but is this good enough? When a team with the potential they have make it that far they should win. The question is what are they doing wrong? It seems like they just don't have the big match temperament and it shows in the players body language.


The youngsters coming through plays brilliant rugby only to be replaced by the Springboks in these games. It is as if they just can't link with the other players in the team when this happens and it is understandable. The type of rugby WP plays involve a lot of running by both the backs and forwards with little kicking. The Springboks on the other hand plays a brand of rugby that includes kicking and chasing and rucking the ball up. Yes these players are professional and should be able to adjust but it takes time. And it seems that a week or two is not enough after a long season.


I believe the Stormers/WP has got what it takes to win a big game and that they have been unlucky so far. But a lot of the luck depends on the players. I for one would have started against the Lions, in the 2011 Currie Cup semi-final, without my Springboks and only have brought them on later in the game. The youngsters might just have shown more hunger to win the game and the cohesion would have been better. I believe you don't change a formula if you don't need to. Yes we all want to see the Springboks play, but at what cost?


Currently Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee might want to rethink the way they use their younger players in combination with Springboks especially in the Currie Cup. They are losing some talented young players like JJ Engelbrecht, Johan Sadie, Tim Whitehead and Lionel Cronje and then buy players like Van der Heever. This is not making any sense to me. Letting a winger go to buy another winger from the province taking yours. I rate Engelbrecht a much better player than Van der Heever.


Interesting thing is that Joe Pietersen is coming back to WP and the Stormers. In 2010 he kicked the Stormers into the Super Rugby Final. I was shocked back then when he left. Hope he is as good when he returns. It will be good to have that back up kicker with WP's flyhalfs injuries going the way it did this season. What is however worrying is that there are no move to sign any new forwards for 2012. WP has had some bad luck in this department with injuries as well. I notice that they have lost Herman Roodt (lock) to the Lions and a promising under 20 no. 2 as well.


I just hope Rassie Erasmus and Alister Coetzee know what they are doing with these signings and releasing of players. I truly hope it doesn't come back to bite them on the backside. Jean de Villiers has had his injury concerns and with no real back up at centre it might.


Feature by David van der Merwe