SArugbymag.co.za chats to Nelspruit 1st XV coach Gerhard Holtzhausen about the upcoming season.
How many of last year’s 1st XV players are still in the squad?
Out of 23 only eight remain, so it will be a fairly young team this year.
What has been your main focus in preparing for this season?
To create as much depth as possible because we don’t have as many players and it is very hard from year to year.
Who are the key players in your squad?
Our loose forwards will be very important to us this season.
Who will be your toughest opposition this year?
The Tuks competition is very tough and in our pool is Garsfontein, Florida and Marais Viljoen. We are also playing at the St John's festival against Paul Roos, Pretoria Boys' and the hosts. In the Mpumalanga league HTS-Middelburg is always a tough one.
What lessons have you learned from last season?
It doesn’t matter how good you are, It comes down to a matter of if you have the passion and never give up and never lose faith.
What are your goals for the 2014 season?
To keep the standard that we set in Mpumalanga in 2013 very high.
