Despite a two-and-a-half-hour delay, the Border Bulldogs arrived in high spirits in Wellington for their first division Currie Cup final against the Boland Cavaliers on Friday afternoon.
The Bulldogs team had boarded at 11am only to be told there was a problem with starting the aeroplane. Several hours later the team were back on the plane and arrived in Cape Town at 4.20pm where they made their way to Paarl for a light training session.
Despite the delay, Bulldogs captain and eighthman Pietie Loots remained confident.
”The delayed flight is a side issue. We have come to play a final and won’t be sidetracked,” he said.
”I believe the team can raise their game by at least another 20% and even though we are playing away we can win this final.”
Bulldogs technical director David Maidza felt the same but acknowledged the game would be won by the side that wanted to win the most.
”We know Boland’s tactics and know they will attack us up front,” he said.
And this is where the Cavaliers may well have the upperhand. They have two fine locks in David de Villiers and Henk Eksteen, good back-up in Nickey Smit and captain and flank Conrad Burke will know just how to play things.
A concern for both teams though will be how to contain rival flyhalves Solly Goosen of Boland and Reinhard Gerber of the Bullldogs. Both are proven match winners and both will have an important role to play.
Boland are expected to attack the inside channel as often as they can in the hope of sucking in the Bulldogs loose forwards, while the visitors will be aware of the fact that if they can win their fair share of first phase ball they will be able to run in tries out wide.
But as all finals go, it will be the will to win, the bounce of the ball and who has the most determination.
Coach Dumisani Mhani believes his team will finish strongly.
”We have a team which believes in themselves, believes in one another and believes they can go all the way. I cannot ask more than that,” he said.
One worry for the Bulldogs is the fitness of loosehead prop Alastair Lyon who hurt his knee in the semifinal against the Leopards last Friday.
Said Lyons: At the moment it feels pretty sore but I will have a light light run and the end decision will rest with myself and the medical team.”
If Lyons cannot take the field, Black Mtimka will be his stand-in. – Sapa