By ZINGISA MVUMVU
Should Border Bulldogs lose their Currie Cup qualifier 2016 final match against Free State on Friday night, they will finish second-last in the log-standings.
This state of affairs should be worrying for the Elliot Fana-led Border technical team, as it will raise serious questions about their future ahead of the Currie Cup First Division season starting next month.
Bulldogs suffered yet another defeat, when they went down 52-26 to the Western Province at the weekend at Newlands, taking their record to eight losses against just five wins.
Whispers in the Border Rugby corridors, suggest Fana has lost the confidence of the players. Further questions Border Rugby has to ponder, is whether Fana’s juggling of his responsibilities between his Bulldogs coaching job and as University of Fort Hare rugby director, are arrangements that are conducive to his team’s progress.
Fana was not available for comment yesterday, saying he was in a meeting.
Border director of rugby, Dumisani Mhani had the same explanation. Border currently lie 12th in the log-standings and are tied on 25 points with Valke, who are 13th.
How Bulldogs have dropped to their current log position, from where they initially were following an impressive start to the season, has raised eyebrows.
What makes matters worse, is that the current crop of players are the same group who played a winning brand of rugby at the beginning of the season, which has every Bulldogs follower wondering what might have changed so quickly.
The Bulldogs’s misfortunes have been blamed on the technical team’s inconsistency in team selection. The East London-based provincial side have fielded a different starting XV in almost all matches since the qualifiers started in April.
Border’s inconsistent starting lineup often creates confusion as to what exactly their playing style is – and, for obvious reasons, it seems to have upset structured play.
Border will have to come out with something in the clash against Free State to at least give their fans hope.
There will have to be serious reflection on the way forward before the First Division season resumes in earnest next month. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Bulldogs must put some bite into their play
Should Border Bulldogs lose their Currie Cup qualifier 2016 final match against Free State on Friday night, they will finish second-last in the log-standings.
This state of affairs should be worrying for the Elliot Fana-led Border technical team, as it will raise serious questions about their future ahead of the Currie Cup First Division season starting next month.
Bulldogs suffered yet another defeat, when they went down 52-26 to the Western Province at the weekend at Newlands, taking their record to eight losses against just five wins.
Whispers in the Border Rugby corridors, suggest Fana has lost the confidence of the players. Further questions Border Rugby has to ponder, is whether Fana’s juggling of his responsibilities between his Bulldogs coaching job and as University of Fort Hare rugby director, are arrangements that are conducive to his team’s progress.
Fana was not available for comment yesterday, saying he was in a meeting.
Border director of rugby, Dumisani Mhani had the same explanation. Border currently lie 12th in the log-standings and are tied on 25 points with Valke, who are 13th.
How Bulldogs have dropped to their current log position, from where they initially were following an impressive start to the season, has raised eyebrows.
What makes matters worse, is that the current crop of players are the same group who played a winning brand of rugby at the beginning of the season, which has every Bulldogs follower wondering what might have changed so quickly.
The Bulldogs’s misfortunes have been blamed on the technical team’s inconsistency in team selection. The East London-based provincial side have fielded a different starting XV in almost all matches since the qualifiers started in April.
Border’s inconsistent starting lineup often creates confusion as to what exactly their playing style is – and, for obvious reasons, it seems to have upset structured play.
Border will have to come out with something in the clash against Free State to at least give their fans hope.
There will have to be serious reflection on the way forward before the First Division season resumes in earnest next month. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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