DHL Western Province get their Currie Cup campaign underway in Johannesburg this weekend and will be looking to give this campaign a full crack.
The DHL Stormers coaching staff will also take charge of the Currie Cup campaign this season, as DHL Western Province aims to add to their record 34 titles in South African rugby’s oldest competition.
Head Coach John Dobson explained that given the fact that there are only two matches where the coaching staff will have to be in different places, they made the call to train with one big squad across both teams.
“There are only two Currie Cup games where we won’t all be able to be physically in the same place.
“For example when the DHL Stormers play Leinster on Friday night and DHL Western Province play in the Currie Cup on Sunday. Obviously one of the coaches will look after the DHL WP team during the week and the rest of us will be back for the game.
“For the rest, they will be either curtain-raisers playing at the same venue, or the DHL Stormers are off, like these next two weeks,” he explained.
Dobson said that by training together to prepare both teams, there will be greater synergy as players and coaches move between teams.
“What we promised the team to create this bigger squad and real sense of belonging. We really want to get to know the players better and give them the same service levels as the DHL Stormers. It gives them a real chance to compete, it just feels like the right thing to do for those players.
“We haven’t been at the Currie Cup sharp-end for a while, we missed out last year, so we want to make the supporters proud and show that the Currie Cup is still important in the Cape,” he said.
That all starts with a tough game against the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, where Dobson is expecting a real test of character for the opening game.
“We will have a good team out there and we obviously want to do well in the Currie Cup. If we do face a full-strength Lions team it will be brilliant because almost all of these guys have played Vodacom URC for us and we want to give them more high-level rugby, so going to Emirates Airline Park will be a great experience.
“We are excited for this campaign in terms of creating more depth and giving guys opportunities. Our away start is Lions, Sharks and Bulls away, so it will be a tough start and we are looking forward to the challenge,” he added.