As we near the pinnacle of the schoolboy rugby season, Craven Week, teams have been preparing with friendly matches, where the Pumas went down to their KZN counterparts.

Van der Westhuizen told SSN that his injury-plagued side’s loss to KZN is nothing to worry about and backed his charges to bounce back.

“You have to take note that we have injuries and key players that did not play the KZN game,” he said.

“For boosting the boys we have a well-planned practice camp which will enable them to prepare well thus being a factor in this year’s Craven Week.”

The Pumas’ opening match is against Western Province, where Van der Westhuizen believes his side will have to beat the boys from the Cape to lay a foundation for winning the coveted tournament.

“For a small union it is always a challenge to play against the big provinces. For us to win the Craven Week we have to beat obviously (Western) Province in the opening match, thereafter we will encounter all the other unions as they come.

The coach, coy to give everything away, added that his team will head into this tournament with the same strategy as last year.

“Each year’s team has its own uniqueness. Last year’s side had some outstanding players to this year’s. We have good players and they’re all above average.”

He said that his team will strive for “team spirit and unity”.