Players not motivated by Kobus

Chairman of the Western Province board, Pat Kuhn, took the initiative in calling for a meeting after Van der Merwe begun publicly criticising his players, before delivering punishment drills at training this week.

However the rot had already begun to set in after a dressing-room bust-up with WP captain Luke Watson after his substitution during their Currie Cup game against the Blue Bulls.

“We had a bad Super 14 and never expected such a poor start to the Currie Cup. We were even poorer against the Sharks than against Boland and when players are clearly not motivated by the coach, there is a huge problem,” revealed Kuhn.

“Ultimately it was not a nice thing to have to do, but the decision was unanimous and by mutual understanding they both stood down.”

Western Province hooker Schalk Britz revealed that the players had whinged about having to get together on Sunday morning to go for a short run as punishment for their pathetic showing against the Sharks.”Some players took it personally. It may have alienated them (from the coach),” said Brits.

“No team enjoys getting together at ten o’clock on a Sunday morning to go running. That is family time.”

Nick Mallett, currently seeing out his contract as director of rugby, was not involved in the decision.

“I am not the director of rugby in practice right now and will be working with young players at the WP Institute in Stellenbosch until my contract ends.

“But my last recommendation to WP was that they appoint a director of rugby as soon as possible and get him in quickly to start talking to the players to sort out issues and uncertainties in the team,” said Mallett.

WP Vodacom Cup coaches Gary Gold and Nazeem Adams were appointed as caretaker coaches for the remainder of this year’s Currie Cup.

“I’ve called a meeting with the players today to hear their version and share mine moving forward. We need to put a plan of action together, both short-term and long-term, to establish incentive systems and refocussing of priorities.

“Right now all we can do is focus on one game at a time,” said Gold.

Western Province play South Western Districts in a compulsory Currie Cup friendly in George on Saturday.