Elephants simply not good enough against Boland, says Coetzee

EP were forced to face the harsh reality that they were simply not good enough after they were thrashed 85-29 by a rampant Boland Kavaliers side in Wellington on Saturday, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee said.

The heavy defeat was a big let-down for EP supporters after the Elephants recorded victories over the Border Bulldogs and Griffons in their previous SA Cup outings.

A battered EP side will have to go back to the drawing board before the Currie Cup First Division tournament, which kicks off shortly.

The Elephants ended seventh on the 10-team log with a haul of 18 points from their nine outings, which left them out of the running for promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division.

“This was a really disappointing finish to the campaign,” Coetzee said.

“We were simply outplayed as the game progressed.

“The Elephants again conceded a try just before halftime, after getting to within 24-17 of the Kavaliers.

“EP were on the attack just outside the Boland 22m, and then a bridge pass was intercepted.

“That resulted in a 14-point swing after the Boland wing ran 70 metres to score under the poles.

“After halftime we had no legs and no work rate as Boland became stronger and stronger.

“The reality is we weren’t good enough on the day.

With momentum and a new sense of confidence permeating through their ranks, the EP Elephants are hunting for a third consecutive SA Cup win when they face the high-riding Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Saturday. Victories over the Border Bulldogs and Griffons in their previous outings have raised morale in the EP camp ahead of a tough encounter against the promotion-chasing Cavaliers at the Boland Stadium (kickoff 3pm). After slumping to four consecutive losses in their opening matches, EP have found a second wind and are on an upward trajectory ahead of the Currie Cup First Division season. “The trip to face Boland is our final game in the competition, and a lot of confidence has been built up in the team during the course of the season,” EP coach Allister Coetzee said. “I am rather excited at the upward trajectory of this team going into the Currie Cup, and there is a very positive mood in the camp. “It was a pleasing performance from EP against the Griffons, where we had to grind our way towards a rare away win in Welkom.” Though EP are out of the running for a top-four SA Cup finish and promotion to the Currie Premier Division, the Cavaliers still have an opportunity to snatch a berth in the top four. In the win over the Griffons, EP’s points came from wing Lwandile Maphuko (2), Diego Williams and a penalty try. Flyhalf Garth April booted three conversions and a penalty. “It was special in that we have not had a win in Welkom in a long time,” Coetzee said. “Considering the adversity EP have faced, to pull this one off was really huge in the context of where we are going as a team. “Just getting over the line and grinding it out at altitude is another factor to consider. Our discipline was outstanding, and the Griffons had two yellow cards in the game. This shows how we have grown as a team this season “Our discipline was outstanding, and the Griffons had two yellow cards in the game. “This shows how we have grown as a team this season.” Thanks to their win, EP are seventh on the 10-team log, with 17 points from seven outings. The Toyota Cheetahs are facing a make-or-break clash in their bid to gain Currie Cup Premier Division promotion in Bloemfontein on Friday. Standing in their way are an unbeaten Suzuki Griquas outfit who have enjoyed dominance over the Free Staters in recent years. With just one round of league games remaining, Griquas are way out in front with a full house of 40 log points, seven more than the second-placed Pumas. The Cheetahs are third in the standings on 30, while Boland’s two bonus points from their defeat against the Pumas in Nelspruit kept them in semi-final contention in fourth on 27 points. The SWD Eagles are also on 27 but moved down to fifth due to an inferior points difference. Griquas will finish at the top, while the defending champions, the Pumas, are also safe after their hard-fought 38-31 win against the Boland Cavaliers on Sunday. While they remain well-placed heading into the final round-robin fixture, pressure is mounting on the Cheetahs. Log (all teams have played eight matches): Griquas 40, Pumas 33, Cheetahs 30, Boland 27, SWD Eagles 27, Falcons 24, EP Elephants 17, Griffons 13, Leopards 9, Border Bulldogs 0 Fixtures: Friday: Cheetahs v Griquas, Pumas v Griffons. Saturday: Boland v EP Elephants, SWD Eagles v Leopards, Border Bulldogs v Falcons Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“Compounding this defeat were 27 or 28 hours of travel in a bus within four or five days.

“That definitely aggravates the situation.

“EP were flat, lacked intensity and not good enough with our skill set and lineouts.

“Big positives, however, were our scrummaging and the four tries scored for a bonus point

“I know Boland is tough in Wellington, but we were poor, which was actually undoing all the good work and progress after last week against the Griffons in Welkom.”

Boland led 38-17 at the break with Xavier Mitchell scoring four tries in the opening 40 minutes on the occasion of his 50th Kavaliers cap.

Mitchell crossed the whitewash three more times in the second half, taking his try-scoring record for the match to seven.

In total, the Kavaliers ran in 13 tries to four in a match that saw the home side run rampant.

Mitchell, along with Sauliegh Arendse, made their 50th appearance for the Wellington side.

The Kavaliers broke down the EP Elephants’ defence with ease, despite the visitors making some telling tackles.

It may not have been perfect, but an ugly 31-28 win over the Griffons enabled EP to continue their late-season revival in Welkom on Saturday, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee said. After thrashing the Border Bulldogs 71-14 in their previous outing, the Elephants had to dig deep before they were able to subdue the tenacious Purple People Eaters on their home ground. Though EP are out of the running for a top four SA Cup finish and promotion to the Currie Premier Division, Saturday’s win will give the Elephants a boost before the Currie Cup First Division kicks off. It was EP’s third win of the season, and they will be keen to end the season on a high note when they face the high-riding Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Saturday. EP, who held a 24-14 halftime lead, produced a fighting second half showing to emerge with the spoils. The Elephants’ points came from wing Lwandile Maphuko (2), Diego Williams and a penalty try. Flyhalf Garth April booted three conversions and a penalty. “Having a win under the belt made the long bus trip home to Gqeberha from Welkom much more pleasant and seem a bit shorter,” Coetzee said. “I’m really proud of the players for pulling this one off. “It was not perfect, and I would describe it as an ugly win. “But it was a necessary win for the Elephants. “It is special in that we have not had a win here in Welkom in a long time.” Coetzee said EP had adapted well after some reshuffling of the team had been required. “Like I have been saying, there is big progress being made in this team despite the absence of centre Troy Delport, whose contract has ended. “Troy was our vice-captain and a mainstay in this EP side. “We had Liyema Matyolweni starting at 13, and he only played for 17 minutes before he had to be replaced because of a hamstring injury. “With all the reshuffling in the team, we adapted really well. “Considering the adversity EP faced, to pull this one off was really huge in the context of where we are going as a team. “Just getting over the line and grinding it out at altitude is another factor to consider. “Our discipline was outstanding, and the Griffons had two yellow cards in the game. “This shows how we have grown as a team this season.” Thanks to their win, EP are seventh on the 10-team log with 17 points from seven outings. Border’s miserable season continued when they slumped to an 87-5 loss to the Cheetahs at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday. The Cheetahs ran in 13 tries and led 47-5 at the break. Wing Michael Annies scored four tries, Rewan Kruger and Louis van der Westhuizen each scored twice, while Cohen Jasper, Juan Smal, Sisonke Vumazonke, Ramon Uys and Tielman Nieuwoudt completed the rout. Border’s solitary try was scored by Mbasa Nkonki just before half-time. The Bulldogs play the Falcons in their final SA Cup game of the season at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium next week. Weekend fixtures: Friday: Cheetahs vs Griquas, Pumas vs Griffons. Saturday: Boland Cavaliers vs EP Elephants, SWD Eagles vs Leopards, and Border Bulldogs vs Falcons. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

EP’s tries came via a brace from Mpho Ntsane and a try apiece from Lwandile Mapuko and Jac van der Walt, with Garth April influencing most of these tries.

The second half belonged to the Kavaliers, with the men from Wellington making light work of the would-be defenders of the EP Elephants and running in tries at regular intervals.

Scorers:

Boland Kavaliers 85: Tries: Xavier Mitchell (7), Chris Smit (2), Jurick Lewis, Lunathi Nxele, Duren Hoffman, Kwanda Dimaza. Conversions: Jayden Bantom (5), Thurlon Williams (5).

EP Elephants 29: Tries: Lwandile Mapuko, Jac van der Walt, Mpho Ntsane (2). Conversions: Garth April (3). Penalty: April.

Other scores: Border Bulldogs 12 Valke 50, SWD Eagles 69 Leopards 19, Pumas 61 Griffons 12, Cheetahs 31.

Log (all teams have played nine matches): Griquas 42, Pumas 38, Cheetahs 35, Boland Kavaliers 32, SWD Eagles 32, Valke 29, EP Elephants 18, Griffons 13, Leopards 9, Border Bulldogs 0.

- Additional reporting Boland Rugby media

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