The force is strong in the Western Province team as they gear up for Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final against the Blue Bulls at Newlands (5.05pm).
Having swept aside their opposition to finish at the top of the round-robin standings, coach John Dobson admits that his team hasn’t been sent to that “dark place” where they have to fight back for a win.
But he is confident that his charges will get over that hurdle if the Bulls get out of the blocks quickly at Newlands.
Dobson explains: “We haven’t really been stress-tested.
“Our tightest game was 50-28 against the Sharks - that’s 22 points.
“As a coach, I’m thinking we haven’t really been to those dark places where you’re under the poles twice in a row.
“Converse to that, look, I don’t want to experience that. But that’s where I believe all the work we have done off the field.
“If we are in that position, I’ve got no doubt that these guys will come back.
“It’s almost what we’re about.”
The work they’ve done off the field is summarised by captain and No.4 lock Chris van Zyl as follows: “There’s this genuine love and care for each other off the field.
“But what we’ve really been driving, and that’s what Dobbo has been focusing on, it’s one thing to have the love and camaraderie off the field.
“But it’s worth nothing if you don’t keep each other accountable on the field.
“That’s something we’ve really got right and I hope we continue to get it right.
“If you really care about someone, you’ll show it off the field and on the field in the way you play and get off the ground for that individual.
“That’s what makes me happy [as a captain], the feeling we’ve got for each other and the style of rugby we want to play.”