Big lock Bekker is WP’s big hope

CAPE TOWN – If the Blue Bulls’ march to a second consecutive Absa Currie Cup final is to be halted, Andries Bekker is going to have to show that a semi-final can be an occasion where pupil turns master.

The Western Province Springbok, although contributing hugely in general play, looked well short of his best in the lineouts in the last two WP matches against the Lions and the Boland Cavaliers. They were Bekker’s first full matches in a while following a long injury layoff which preceded the Springbok international season.But if the Bulls think that Bekker’s average showing in the lineouts in those games was a reason for optimism, they could be in for a surprise. While WP coach Allister Coetzee stopped short of describing the system used by WP in the last two games as a ruse, he left little to the imagination when asked about it this week.’Let’s just say that there were reasons for that and it is related to Saturday’s game but I don’t want to talk about it,’ said Coetzee.It is understood though that the system used by WP against the Lions and the Cavaliers will not be the system used against the Bulls. Which means that Matfield, who has played with Bekker and been coached by Coetzee, won’t be able to do his usual meticulous study. Or he will, but it is unclear of what he will be getting out of it.While last week’s emphasis for Province was to finish top of the log which would have seen them avoid the Bulls in the semi-final round, they have been resigned to having to play the Bulls in the playoffs for several weeks. And their planning, particularly the work done on combating Matfield, did not just start this week.’To get the better of Victor Matfield in the lineouts is something that requires a lot of planning and hard work, it is not something that you just work out in the week of the game. Myself, Rassie, Andries and Anton van Zyl have already been meeting to discuss the Matfield threat and devise ways to combat it,’ said WP forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot. – Superrugby

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