Sanlam Boland Kavaliers head coach Hawies Fourie said their inexperience in playing at the intensity of the Currie Cup competition clearly showed in their 19-67 semifinal loss to the Fedility ADT Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
“I felt that we weren’t used to playing at this intensity before.”
“When I started last year, we played in the SA Cup and the First Division, where the games against the Cheetahs, Pumas, Griquas, and the Griffons were tight. Then we had some easier games against teams such as Border and Leopards.”
“So we had two or three tough and the same amount of easier games, so you could pace yourself.
“The Currie Cup was something different with seven games in a row, which were at a higher level and higher intensity against quality opposition, and it got more difficult as the season came to a close.
“We played Western Province last weekend with their United Rugby Championship players and a much-improved Lions team than the one we played against in Wellington.”
“It’s a good experience for us. It’s good for us to play at this level and know what it takes. You can then have an honest look at yourself and see which areas require improvement as coaches and players.”
“It’s not nice to lose like this with that sort of score margin, but if you look at the competition in perspective, I will always say ‘thank you, we will play again and want to compete at this level and improve to show we can compete against teams like this.”