Leopards maul Goshawks

Sports Reporter

BRENDAN DAWSON read the Riot Act on his Goshawks side after their sluggish performance resulted in a 37-0 mauling by Leopards in a Carling Currie Cup First Division rugby encounter at City Park Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday.

The Goshawks had lately been enjoying a purple patch, with some decent performances that powered them to victories in their last three games.

However, they were a pale shadow of themselves in yesterday’s game in which they struggled to contain their opponents, particularly from set-pieces.

A disappointed Dawson could not immediately issue post-match comments, with team manager Jason Maritz only indicating the coach wanted to first hold some meetings with his charges.

“Not a good game and coaches and players are going to have meetings now,” Maritz said.

Such was the Leopards dominance that Goshawks were forced to replace their front row, with the trio of Mathew Mandioma, Gabriel Sipapate and Tyran Fagan being sent on to try and prop up the pack.

Dawson’s men are using the Currie Cup as part of preparations for the Rugby Africa Cup scheduled for France from July 1 to July 10.

They will wind up their campaign with two more assignments against Eastern Province and Valke in their last two fixtures.

After the Currie Cup, the Sables will revert to playing as Sables and travell to Netherlands, where they play the host country in an international friendly on June 25.

But, before that, Dawson would name the squad on June 10 that will do duty at the Rugby Africa Cup.

After yesterday’s disappointment, the coach will no doubt have plenty do think about as he finalises his team that will go to France via Netherlands.

A former Zimbabwe captain, who featured for the Sables at the World Cup, Dawson knows the significance of playing at the global event.

He has since welcomed news of the international friendly against Netherlands.

The match is set for the Rugby Stadium in Amsterdam.

“Yeah, it’s a great addition to our preparations.

“We went to Russia and Italy in 1989 and I was fortunate to be part of that squad, and playing away Test matches in Europe is huge.

“It gives a totally different perspective of what we are trying to achieve here and where we are,” Dawson said.

This year’s Rugby Africa Cup is also being used as the final qualifier for the 2023 World Cup, which is also set for France.

“Playing overseas is huge, the guys are going to gain a lot of experience and I think it’s going to be good for us going into our World Cup qualifiers.

“Playing at that level, playing at that intensity and abroad will definitely be a new experience for the guys, as they will have a new set of fans as opposed to our local supporters that they are used to.

“It will definitely be good for us,” Dawson said prior to his team’s defeat by Leopards yesterday.