It is make or break for the Border Bulldogs as they face the Hino Valke in a do-or-die Currie Cup promotion clash at the Buffalo City Stadium tonight.
It is essentially a turning point in their season that could see Border’s challenge fizzle out or give them a second wind and a chance to climb back up the table.
“This is certainly a make or break game because if we lose we concede our log-standing and go even further down, which is not what we want,” said Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana.
“We want to win this game so that we can move up the log and give us a chance going forward.
“A win will also be a massive confidence boost for us because our confidence is low after our recent losses and we could use the lift.”
After starting the season with a bang with three wins in a row, the team has slipped backwards as four successive defeats have taken them from the heights of second on the log, down to 10th and in danger of effectively ending their campaign just halfway through.
“This is a huge match for us, it could break our character or give us the lift we need to save our season and turn it into a success,” admitted Fana.
“It is now or never, we know that and we are going to go out and do our job.”
The Valke are also having a difficult season and find themselves a place below Border, with a game in hand, after four losses and two wins so far.
Their last outing was a tight home loss to Boland and they will, like the Bulldogs, want to win this match to arrest the slide.
For the home team they will need to iron out their problems as despite the 28-3 drubbing they suffered at the hands of the Steval Pumas in their first loss, their next three defeats saw them well in the match throughout as they went down by nine points, 12 points and 11 points to the Griquas, Leopards and Griffons respectively.
“I don’t think we have played badly in any of our games, I just think we have had quite a few soft moments which has crept into our game and punished us and we need to fix this against the Valke,” explained Fana.
“We know they are a good team and it will be a tough match, but I believe my guys have what it takes to get the win.”
To secure a victory Border’s forwards will need to lay a strong platform for their backline to play off and with the home crowd backing them the team will want to entertain.
Border’s top pointscorer so far this season is fullback Masixole Banda and his counter-attacking threat and pinpoint kicking, out of hand and from the tee could be crucial in the match, while the teams top try-scorer Makazole Mapimpi will be playing off the bench and he will be eager to add to his six-try tally if he comes on.
The match kicks off at 7pm and a curtain-raiser between the Bulldogs and Valke U20 teams will get under way at 4pm.
Bulldogs to turn heat up
It is essentially a turning point in their season that could see Border’s challenge fizzle out or give them a second wind and a chance to climb back up the table.
“This is certainly a make or break game because if we lose we concede our log-standing and go even further down, which is not what we want,” said Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana.
“We want to win this game so that we can move up the log and give us a chance going forward.
“A win will also be a massive confidence boost for us because our confidence is low after our recent losses and we could use the lift.”
After starting the season with a bang with three wins in a row, the team has slipped backwards as four successive defeats have taken them from the heights of second on the log, down to 10th and in danger of effectively ending their campaign just halfway through.
“This is a huge match for us, it could break our character or give us the lift we need to save our season and turn it into a success,” admitted Fana.
“It is now or never, we know that and we are going to go out and do our job.”
The Valke are also having a difficult season and find themselves a place below Border, with a game in hand, after four losses and two wins so far.
Their last outing was a tight home loss to Boland and they will, like the Bulldogs, want to win this match to arrest the slide.
For the home team they will need to iron out their problems as despite the 28-3 drubbing they suffered at the hands of the Steval Pumas in their first loss, their next three defeats saw them well in the match throughout as they went down by nine points, 12 points and 11 points to the Griquas, Leopards and Griffons respectively.
“I don’t think we have played badly in any of our games, I just think we have had quite a few soft moments which has crept into our game and punished us and we need to fix this against the Valke,” explained Fana.
“We know they are a good team and it will be a tough match, but I believe my guys have what it takes to get the win.”
To secure a victory Border’s forwards will need to lay a strong platform for their backline to play off and with the home crowd backing them the team will want to entertain.
Border’s top pointscorer so far this season is fullback Masixole Banda and his counter-attacking threat and pinpoint kicking, out of hand and from the tee could be crucial in the match, while the teams top try-scorer Makazole Mapimpi will be playing off the bench and he will be eager to add to his six-try tally if he comes on.
The match kicks off at 7pm and a curtain-raiser between the Bulldogs and Valke U20 teams will get under way at 4pm.
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