WEN IS OP PAD

WESTERN Province coach Labeeb Levy skeems sy span are not far from a first win in this year’s Currie Cup Premier Division, after back-to-back losses.

Province next face Griquas on Friday, in what is a short turnaround after their 40-19 defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park last Saturday.

Sitting second from bottom on the Currie Cup standings with no points to show, the Kaapse span will be desperate to break their duck.

A third loss, in a shortened Currie Cup season, could see WP’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals end before it even gets going.  

But despite a second loss by more than 20 punte, after the Bulls beat them 48-23 in the first round, Levy is upbeat about his manne se potential to string together an 80-minute performance.

And the Streeptruie baas wysed: “Conversion-wise, there were opportunities [against the Lions] we did not put away, but it’s just that little bit of synergy that we’re working on – getting combos together in training in order to convert those. We need to work on being a bit more clinical.

“There are plans, and we’re hoping to keep improving until the time we can deliver a good performance for the full 80 minutes.”

Levy also praised his young team for staying in the fight against a more experienced Lions outfit, saying: “We asked them to come out fighting and they did. We scored first.

“In the second half, we weren’t as clinical as we could have been. But we’re a new team, a new group, so I’m massively proud of the boys.”

Levy will also be hoping to add a bit of experience to his WP team, with flyhalf Jurie Matthee, expected to be fit and available for the Griquas clash, after missing out on the first two games, due to a concussion protocol.

Meanwhile, the Springboks have also requested that some of their standby players for the Rugby Championship get some game time in the Currie Cup. However, it looks highly unlikely that Levy would get the green light to use Salmaan Moerat or Evan Roos anytime soon.