BORDER BULLDOGS HOPING FOR MORE BITE THIS YEAR
Team remains confident despite missing out on valuable match practice
Ready to open season’s campaign against Valke, at altitude, after two months’ hard preparation
The Border Bulldogs will be putting the finishing touches on their preparations over the next two days as they prepare to open their 2018 Currie Cup First Division campaign against the Valke at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.
It has been a busy two months of training for the Bulldogs after they returned from their break since dropping out of the SuperSport Rugby Challenge competition in June when they missed out on the playoffs. However, that preparation was dealt a slight blow over the past weekend when the Southern Kings cancelled a warm-up match at the last minute, meaning the Bulldogs missed out on some valuable match practice ahead of the First Division.
“It was difficult, the only option we had was to ask the clubs to help us, but they were unavailable so we unfortunately missed out,” said Bulldogs coach Tiger Mangweni.
“It was a blow because we were looking to try a few combinations and give guys a run in some positions and we were also hoping that the Southern Kings would ask a few questions of the team so we would have an idea of where we are ahead of the Currie Cup.
“But we have put that behind us now and are just focused on the final few days of training before our match on Saturday.”
Due to the match being called off, the Bulldogs instead held a contact session on Friday afternoon, before giving the players the weekend off.
On Monday they then had a gym session before spending the rest of their training time in a Valke video session, seeing how they played during the SuperSport rugby challenge.
On Tuesday they then held a couple of field sessions and on Wednesday they have the day off, before a final field session on Thursday and a captains run on Friday. “Training has been going very well, everything has been good, the players know what is expected of them, so things are looking positive,” said Mangweni. “We have a few more sessions just to make sure everything is in place, but I am confident in our preparations so far.”
The team would normally have left for the match on Friday, but in an effort to combat altitude the team will instead head off for the match early on Saturday morning.
“The plan is to go Saturday morning so that altitude doesn't impact us and we are fully ready for the game,” explained Mangweni.
“We believe it is the correct move and will give us a good chance to get our campaign off to the best possible start.”
The Bulldogs will be aiming for a much better showing in the First Division than in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge earlier this year where they finished second bottom of their pool.
However, having had a full, uninterrupted buildup to the competition, which they didn't have at the start of the year, should help the team get off to a start.
“We are ready, our preparations before the SuperSport challenge were not ideal, but for the Currie Cup we are ready,” said Mangweni.
“I think we have to make the knockout stages, that will be our goal, and if we can get there we will then look to take it one game at a time and see how far we can get.”
Saturday's match is set for a
4pm kick-off.
We’re just focused on the final few days of training before our match