Border Bulldogs received a massive confidence booster ahead of the Currie Cup 2016 competition that starts in two weeks time.
Even more important than the hard fought 17-12 victory over the Sharks at the weekend was the fact that Border won away from home as the friendly was played in Kokstad.
This bodes well for their Currie Cup opener on April 8 against Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
Bulldogs assistant coach, David Dobela, in the absence of head coach Elliot Fana who has been snubbing the Daily Dispatch for months, said the result was a positive one that will steer the team towards the right direction.
Dobela added that the technical team was convinced that the team was coming together well in many departments.
The Bulldogs displayed resilience and a good fighting spirit, snatching the victory in the last 10 minutes of the match after trailing 10-12 for the most part of the second half.
The East London-based provincial team crossed the try line twice courtesy of Makazole Mapimpi and new signing Sibusiso Ncanywa while the Durban side answered with two of their own.
The fact that Bulldogs managed to score the winning try late in the match proved that “our fitness is on point,” said Dobela.
“The win is a good confidence booster for us and a sign that what we have been doing during the pre-season is working.
“The boys played well, they were confident and not scared of expressing themselves to the fullest which I think won it for us.”
What is paramount to the Bulldogs moving forward is the need to keep level-headed and work hard towards strengthening certain parts of the game.
For instance, Dobela is not happy with how they play in lineouts and in the scrums.
“We need to improve on those departments and we have an opportunity to do that before the start of the season when we play the Cheetahs in another friendly on Saturday.”
Much is expected from the Bulldogs this year following below par performances in previous years.
They will not have it easy in the extended Currie Cup season when they will lock horns against top sides in the country.
In fact, their victory against the Sharks at the weekend will be hollow if they do not repeat it when they meet again in the Currie Cup in East London on April 15 in what will be a jam-packed schedule of 15 matches in little more than three months.
Away victory over Sharks gives Bulldogs a boost
Even more important than the hard fought 17-12 victory over the Sharks at the weekend was the fact that Border won away from home as the friendly was played in Kokstad.
This bodes well for their Currie Cup opener on April 8 against Golden Lions in Johannesburg.
Bulldogs assistant coach, David Dobela, in the absence of head coach Elliot Fana who has been snubbing the Daily Dispatch for months, said the result was a positive one that will steer the team towards the right direction.
Dobela added that the technical team was convinced that the team was coming together well in many departments.
The Bulldogs displayed resilience and a good fighting spirit, snatching the victory in the last 10 minutes of the match after trailing 10-12 for the most part of the second half.
The East London-based provincial team crossed the try line twice courtesy of Makazole Mapimpi and new signing Sibusiso Ncanywa while the Durban side answered with two of their own.
The fact that Bulldogs managed to score the winning try late in the match proved that “our fitness is on point,” said Dobela.
“The win is a good confidence booster for us and a sign that what we have been doing during the pre-season is working.
“The boys played well, they were confident and not scared of expressing themselves to the fullest which I think won it for us.”
What is paramount to the Bulldogs moving forward is the need to keep level-headed and work hard towards strengthening certain parts of the game.
For instance, Dobela is not happy with how they play in lineouts and in the scrums.
“We need to improve on those departments and we have an opportunity to do that before the start of the season when we play the Cheetahs in another friendly on Saturday.”
Much is expected from the Bulldogs this year following below par performances in previous years.
They will not have it easy in the extended Currie Cup season when they will lock horns against top sides in the country.
In fact, their victory against the Sharks at the weekend will be hollow if they do not repeat it when they meet again in the Currie Cup in East London on April 15 in what will be a jam-packed schedule of 15 matches in little more than three months.
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