Western Province were in impressive form as they destroyed the Pumas 44-20 in their Currie Cup match at Newlands on Saturday evening.
The home side carried a handsome 20-6 lead into the halftime break, with tries from fullback Gaffie du Toit, flyhalf Chris Rossouw and right wing Egon Seconds on the board, before the Pumas could muster a reply.
Du Toit touched down after just five minutes after a lineout maul by WP was stopped just short of the Pumas’ line.
Scrumhalf Bolla Conradie fed Rossouw, whose speculative pass found his fullback.
The movement set the tone for the half, with WP totally dominant in all phases and relentlessly pressurising the Pumas. In fact, there were a host of squandered opportunities and WP may well have had the match in the bag by halftime.
Rossouw nevertheless had them further ahead in the 22nd minute after rounding off a move he had started with a delightful dummy.
Gaffie du Toit was fed, who passed the ball to Egon Seconds, with the WP wing popping the ball to Rossouw after being stopped just short of the line.
After going close, Seconds got in on the act on the half-hour mark, cutting inside to collect a pass from centre Robbie Fleck.
Pumas fullback Casper Steyn and Rossouw exhanged penalties before another attempt on the stroke of halftime by the Pumas’ goalkicker drew his side to within 14 points.
But any vague hopes the Pumas harboured were quickly dashed as WP turned the screws in relentless fashion in the second half.
Stefan Basson, who had come on after scrumhalf Bolla Conradie had taken a knock, switched play intelligently to the blind side in the 51st minute to allow Du Toit in for his second try.
Then, three minutes later, Seconds ran in again courtesy of a quick throw and Jean de Villiers’s great hands.
Province captain and left wing Pieter Rossouw got in on the scoring act in the 64th minute. Du Toit, who had taken over the goal-kicking from Chris Rossouw, converted to make the score 37-6.
The Pumas managed their first try in the 66th minute when Chris Rossouw knocked a ball behind his goalline and from the ensuing scrum left wing Marius Schoeman touched down in the corner.
Steyn converted impressively from the left-hand corner, but by that time the script had long been cast in stone. For good measure, replacement prop Eddie Andrews, who had come on for the injured Morne van der Merwe, also scored after good build-up work by Pieter Rossouw.
Schoeman’s second try and the Pumas’ consolation effort came seconds after the hooter, with the left wing cracking on the pace in impressive fashion.
The Pumas, however, were soundly beaten, with WP’s forwards having taken the game to their opposition and the backs also in good nick.
Particularly encouraging for WP was the form of young players like tighthead prop Pat Barnard and centre De Villiers, while the Rossouw brothers produced their usual trickery. It was also encouraging to see Du Toit turn in a performance in which he played consistently good rugby.
For the Pumas left wing Marius Schoeman was impressive in space and is definitely a man to look out for in the future. — Sapa
Scorers:
Western Province: Tries: Fullback Gaffie du Toit (2), flyhalf Chris Rossouw, right wing Egon Seconds (2), left wing Pieter Rossouw, replacement prop Eddie Andrews. Conversions: Chris Rossouw, Du Toit (2). Penalty: Chris Rossouw.
Pumas: Tries: Left wing Marius Schoeman (2). Conversions: Fullback Casper Steyn (2). Penalties: Steyn (2).