Western Province coach John Dobson has come under intense scrutiny following yet another disappointing Currie Cup defeat to the Vodacom Blue Bulls, raising serious questions about his leadership and strategic decisions.
The Bulls dominated from the outset, powering to a 50‑34 victory in Pretoria in July 2024, with five tries to Western Province’s four . Despite a half-time deficit, Province’s comeback fizzled as the Bulls controlled momentum in the second half, exploiting weaknesses in their rivals’ defence and game plan.
Dobson’s post-match assessment offered little comfort: “We were well beaten… Once the Bulls had momentum it was hard to stop them, and, quite frankly, it was an embarrassment to Western Province Rugby the way we played. Not one of our players enhanced their reputations” . Fans and analysts alike interpreted the comments as a sign of disarray within the team’s leadership structure.
The match turned decisively when winger Dillyn Leyds was yellow‑carded in the 60th minute, giving the Bulls a crucial one‑man advantage that led to back‑to‑back tries and flipped the game in their favor . Dobson conceded that he had no contingency plan for the numerical disadvantage: “Perhaps, as the coach, I should’ve made a plan but I didn’t.”
This result follows an earlier narrow defeat to the Bulls in Cape Town, where Western Province fell 30‑25 in wet conditions. Dobson lamented his team’s poor first-half performance but praised their fight in the final stages—hardly consolation when the loss denied them full points early in the campaign .
Critics now argue that Dobson’s tactical inflexibility and failure to adapt during games have eroded confidence among players and supporters alike. As injuries mount and form dips, the calls for a change in direction are growing louder.
Only time will tell whether management backs Dobson through the storm—or opts for a fresh voice to steer Western Province back to Currie Cup prominence
