Kolisi growls at Lions

21 August 2014 - 02:01 By Craig Ray
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GRAB IT AND RUN: Siya Kolisi is set to play blindside flank for Western Province in the Currie Cup clash against the Sharks this weekend.
GRAB IT AND RUN: Siya Kolisi is set to play blindside flank for Western Province in the Currie Cup clash against the Sharks this weekend.
Image: ASHLEY VLOTMAN/GALLO IMAGES

Western Province flank Siya Kolisi believes the key to victory against the Golden Lions in Saturday's crunch Currie Cup encounter at Newlands will be dominance at the breakdown.

Both sides have scored tries freely. But in WP's case the bulk of their tries have been scored from effective and fast transition from defence to attack. And that transition comes from quick turnover ball, a part of the game in which Kolisi has been influential.

The Lions and Province both have 10 points after two games but the Johannesburg team has a superior points difference, having racked up 101 points and 13 tries. WP have scored 10 tries.

In Jaco Kriel and Derick Minnie, the Lions have two breakdown specialists who will make the contest both in attack and on defence more difficult for Kolisi and his colleagues.

"The Lions have been very effective in that area, so we'll have to get to the breakdown even faster this week to challenge effectively," Kolisi said. "But we've been doing well in that area of the game, so it will be a test for them as well.

"We have a very exciting [back row] combination," he said.

"Nizaam [Carr] and I have played together since our younger days and we have to hit our groove straight away. I also know Michael Rhodes well. We complement each other nicely.

"Mikey is the hard guy who gets us over the gain line. I'll be the grafter cleaning the rucks to try to win the ball back. I'll also try to do the best I can defensively."

Coach Allister Coetzee named an unchanged team, maintaining faith in the squad that beat the Blue Bulls 41-17 last weekend.

"It's easy to select the same team when they perform well," Coetzee said. "Those players coming back from injury will have to wait to get their chance again."

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