WP kickers thrive under Vlok

Cape Town - New Western Province kicking coach Vlok Cilliers is happy with the improvements the team's kickers have displayed in this year's Currie Cup.

Cilliers, 46, joined WP before the start of this year's Currie Cup after spending several years as the Blue Bulls' kicking coach.

He is a former WP flyhalf who played one Test for the Boks in 1996, and started working as the Bulls' kicking coach in 2004.

In an interview with Die Burger, Cilliers said WP's two flyhalves - Demetri Catrakilis and Kurt Coleman - have shown marked improvement in their tactical kicking.

He said WP's Director of Rugby Gert Smal had instructed him to help the kickers gain more distance with their kicks.

Cilliers said Smal wanted the kickers to be able to kick from the one 22m area to the other.

"For example, when we have a penalty on our own 22m line, then we must be able to kick the ball out deep into opposition territory and use the lineout as platform to get points. There are techniques and exercises that help you simulate match situations," said Cilliers.

Cilliers added that Catrakilis and Coleman are currently kicking the ball "10 to 15m" further.

The duo are also the competition's most accurate goal-kickers to date, with both having a success rate of more than 90%.

Catrakilis will start at flyhalf for this Saturday's clash against Griquas as Newlands when the log-leaders will look to extend their lead atop the standings against the men from Kimberley.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00.

Most accurate goal-kickers in this year's Currie Cup:

1. Demetri Catrakilis (WP) 23/25 - 93%

2. Kurt Coleman (WP) 10/11 - 91%

3. Ruan Combrinck (Golden Lions) 21/24 - 88%

4. Gouws Prinsloo (Griquas) 15/17 - 88%

5. Willie du Plessis (Free State Cheetahs) 17/21 - 81%

6. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Blue Bulls) 20/25 - 80%

7. Justin van Staden (Pumas) 22/29 - 76%

8. JC Roos (Pumas) 8/11 - 73%

9. Lionel Cronjé (Sharks) 8/11 - 73%

10. Scott van Breda (EP Kings) 13/19 - 68%

Teams:

Western Province:

15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Kobus van Wyk, 13. Juan de Jongh (captain), 12. Jaco Taute, 11. Justin Geduld, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Alistair Vermaak

Substitutes: 16. Neil Rautenbach, 17. Oliver Kebble, 18. Pat Cilliers, 19. Manuel Carizza, 20. Rohan Kitshoff, 21. Godlen Masimla, 22. Kurt Coleman

Griquas:

15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 PJ Vermeulen, 10 Francois Brummer (captain), 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Burger Schoeman, 7 Ruaan Lerm, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Maks van Dyk, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Steph Roberts

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Janro van Niekerk, 18 Jonathan Adendorf, 19 Carel Greeff, 20 Abrie Griesel, 21 Dean Grant, 22 Danie Dames