The Boland Cavaliers’ return to the Currie Cup has been anything but boring.
Their first match back in the Premier Division since 2019 ended with a dramatic win against the Cheetahs, after they went the length of the field after the hooter to eventually score in the 88th minute.
Last weekend’s clash against Griquas in Kimberley saw them involved in another high-scoring thriller, but this time they were outgunned by the hosts, who laid the platform for their victory with top set-piece dominance.
Boland’s scrum, particularly on the opposition’s ball, has been a concern in both. They have conceded a plethora of penalties at scrum time, and have had to rely on their dangerous backs to keep them competitive.
This weekend, they face a home clash against a strong Lions outfit that will again test them at scrum time. The Lions have been one of the form teams in the competition, having made light work of the Sharks and Western Province in their opening two matches.
Boland could be boosted in the front row for Sunday’s 3pm kick-off by the addition of new recruit Mthokozisi Gumede, a loosehead prop who joined recently from the Griffons. Gumede can also play on the tighthead side of the scrum.
Boland assistant coach Jacquin Jansen says the team has been working hard on their set-pieces this week in preparation for the match against last year’s Currie Cup finalists.
“The set-pieces are going to be vital. We want a 100 percent return in those departments. It wasn’t that bad against Griquas, as we claimed all our lineout ball and secured our own scrum ball. But we conceded some penalties on their put-in. We want to keep our penalty count low this weekend.”
Another area where Boland feel they need to improve is their tactical kicking, which could prove crucial given the wet conditions expected in Wellington on Sunday.
Torrential rain has lashed the Winelands over the past few weeks, and the Boland pitch is far from ideal. More rain is forecast for the weekend, which will make it difficult for both sides to play their usual expansive brand of rugby.
Boland will also be hoping to have former Springbok tourist Louis Schreuder back for the Lions match. The scrum-half has been sidelined by injury since signing to play Currie Cup rugby for the team.
“The things we worked on this week were keeping possession and our counter-attacks,” added Jansen. “We also focused on our kicking game, which, if executed well, we believe can put the Lions under pressure.”
