Eagles remain focused on Currie Cup promotion

His team’s 47-19 defeat to the Pumas in the Currie Cup  First Division final in Witbank on Friday night was not the end of the world, South Western Districts Eagles coach Johann Lerm said on Saturday.

“Obviously it hurts, but it is not the end of the world. There is still plenty to play for in the next two weeks,” Lerm said.

“I’m looking at the bigger picture. We want to be in the Premier Division next season and that is our main goal,” he said.

Lerm admitted that the Eagles had battled in the tight phases and they needed to improve in that area.

“We were beaten in the lineouts and in the scrums, but is is something we can sort out this week,” he said.

“I’ll go back to the video and see where things went wrong.”

The Eagles play the first of two promotion/relegation matches against the Leopards in Potchefstroom next Friday.

The only Eagles casualty seems to be flyhalf Gaffie du Toit, who could miss the play-off due to a calf injury.

Lerm is, however, confident that centre Isak Saayman would be back for next week’s match.

He was a late withdrawel against the Pumas due to a groin injury.