Griquas sink Elephants after sizzling second-half try-scoring spree

A sizzling second-half try-scoring spree powered SA Cup log-leaders Griquas to a runaway 52-9 win over the EP Elephants at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

EP were still in the fight at halftime when they trailed 14-9, but Griquas moved through the gears in the second half to stretch their winning streak to six matches.

Frustrated EP coach Allister Coetzee said three yellow cards — which resulted in his team playing with 13 men at one stage in the second half — had proved to be a crippling blow.

EP held a narrow 9-7 lead with time running out in the first half before referee Lulutho Matomela awarded a penalty try to Griquas and yellow-carded Elephants lock Athenkosi Khetani.

This sequence of events turned the tide in the favour of the visitors, who took full advantage in the second half, scoring seven unanswered tries.

EP’s Elephants must hang tough and stay in the fight for as long as possible if they want to defy the odds and pull off an upset win over Griquas in an SA Cup clash in Gqeberha on Saturday. The Elephants cannot afford a slow start against a livewire Griquas outfit who will pounce on every opportunity at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 5pm). The high-flying Kimberley outfit are unbeaten after five matches and have a full house of 25 log points after running in 53 tries. EP have won only one of their opening five matches and are in eighth spot on the 10-team log. In a bid to galvanise home crowd support, EPRU Grand Challenge club rugby matches have been put on hold in a bid to boost Saturday’s attendance. “Griquas have a big pack and we can expect an onslaught up front,” EP coach Allister Coetzee said. “EP have not been overpowered up front by any of the big teams we have played in the SA Cup. “The challenge against Griquas is that they play with a lot of width and they will test us defensively because they have sprinters out wide. Griquas have a very quick back three, so we will be tested there. We know Griquas are a good side, but it is our home game and we will give it our best shot.” EP have yet to win at home this season after defeats against the Falcons and SWD Eagles and Coetzee is desperate to reverse that trend. “In the second half we put the squeeze on the Leopards in Potchefstroom and EP were very good at cutting out mistakes,” he said. “We were clinical in scoring back-to-back tries in the second half and EP were also good at mauling, and we scored three tries from that. “I was happy with the win and the performance delivered by the guys. It was an important victory, and we have to build on it against Griquas. The game against the Leopards showed the character of this EP team to always fight to the end.” Griquas coach Pieter Bergh has warned his team EP will be a tough nut to crack on their home turf. “EP are a better team than the log maybe suggests. They were 17-0 down against the Leopards away from home this past weekend and came back to score 43 points and win comfortably,” he said. Playing away from home in a 5pm game in Gqeberha, if you’re not switched on they have the players, coaches and systems to hurt you. We have to make sure we’re ready for that “They’ll take a lot of confidence from that comeback. They also have an experienced international coaching staff with Allister Coetzee and [forwards coach] Matt Proudfoot. You can see the structure they have and the improvements they’ve made. “Playing away from home in a 5pm game in Gqeberha, if you’re not switched on they have the players, coaches and systems to hurt you. We have to make sure we’re ready for that. “Griquas do have a few injuries this week so we had to make a few changes. After a hard, physical game against Boland it’s always good to bring in some fresh faces and energy. “Tiaan Lange is being rested after doing really well for us. Keagan Blackenberg has also been working incredibly hard and he deserves this opportunity. He joined us from Western Province and he’s really enjoying it here.” Log (all teams have played five matches) Griquas 25; Pumas 22; SWD Eagles 22; Cheetahs 18; Boland Cavaliers 15; Griffons 10; Falcons 9; EP Elephants 7; Leopards 7; Border Bulldogs 0. Weekend fixtures Pumas v Leopards; Boland Cavaliers v Border Bulldogs; SWD Eagles v Cheetahs; Griffons v Falcons; EP Elephants v Griquas. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“The big blow for us was the yellow cards, and it is impossible to play against the Currie Cup champions with 13 men,” Coetzee said.

“While we were down to 13 men, Griquas took advantage, and they punished us with their experience and quick outside backs.

“EP’s players put their bodies on the line, but it was discipline and lost opportunities that let us down badly.

“When we were in the Griquas half, we turned the ball over for no reason.

“The Elephants were clinical and tactical in the first half, and Griquas did not expect us to play like that.

“I will have to look at why we received the yellow cards.

“Was it defensive pressure, or was it conceding effort penalties by not rolling out of the way, a high tackle, fighting or doing clumsy things?

“We need to look at how we can fix that.”

Coetzee praised his team for their scrumming and mauling against a physical Griquas outfit.

“Griquas have already put up massive scores against Currie Cup First Division sides in the SA Cup this season,” he said.

EP’s mental and physical courage will be tested in the heat of battle on Saturday when they collide with an unbeaten Suzuki Griquas outfit who are brimming with confidence after making a flying start to the season. After beating the Leopards last week, the Elephants face their biggest test of the season against the 2025 Currie Cup champions at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 5pm). Griquas, who have scored an impressive 53 tries in five matches, will arrive in Gqeberha in a buoyant mood after a fifth consecutive SA Cup victory in Wellington last week. The on-fire side from Kimberley consolidated their position at the top of the log when they beat a formidable Boland Cavaliers outfit 24-14 last week. After a barn-storming start to season, the “Peacock Blues” (Poubloues in Afrikaans) will be confident about stretching their winning run against the Elephants. When the teams met in Kimberley in 2025, Griquas thrashed the Elephants 70-17 on a day EP will not remember with fondness. Later in 2025, Griquas stunned the Lions 27-25 to claim their first Currie Cup title in 55 years, with veteran flyhalf George Whitehead slotting the winning penalty after the hooter. While EP coach Allister Coetzee has called for a cash injection to turn things around Gqeberha, Griquas are not hampered by similar financial constraints. In a move that will promote continuity, Griquas have extended the contract of their successful coach, Pieter Bergh, until the end of 2029. Bergh is a man with a plan, and Griquas have reaped the benefits of his tactical awareness and player management since his appointment in 2021. “My dream for this union is to win a Currie Cup on our home ground,” Bergh said. “It was great to do it at Ellis Park [over the Lions], but my dream is to win a Currie Cup at home in Kimberley. I feel we have an established coaching team. We hope to finalise their contracts soon so they can walk this path with me,” he said. “It’s great that top management has bought into this vision, and it was actually an easy decision for me [to stay].” Before taking over as head coach, Bergh served as an assistant at Griquas and later made a name for himself as the head coach of the CUT Ixias in the Varsity Cup “From a rugby perspective, we’ve built something special in Kimberley,” he said. “We have a settled coaching team and a settled squad, and we were fortunate to have success last season without losing many players, which isn’t something that usually happens at Griquas. “That speaks to the culture we’re building.” Bergh said: “A few years ago, we set out a vision to become the best non-URC team in South Africa, and every day we’re working towards that. “The management has fully bought into that vision, and we’re all aligned and moving in the same direction. Now it’s about building on our success in 2025 and striving for even more in the near future.” Last weekend’s results left Griquas sitting pretty at the top of the standings with 25 points from five wins. They are followed by defending champion Pumas, who moved to 22 points alongside SWD, who are third because of a weaker points difference. Weekend fixtures: Friday: Pumas v Leopards. Saturday: Boland Cavaliers v Border Bulldogs, SWD Eagles v Cheetahs, Griffons v Falcons, EP Elephants v Griquas. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“What I take from this is how we competed at set pieces against them.

“It is not like Griquas went and scored maul tries galore against us.

“I can’t ask more from the players in terms of physicality.

“Griquas’ outside backs are quick athletes, and once you turn it over, you get punished, and that was a big lesson for us.

“That is where we need to grow and to kill the ball when we turn it over and also be more accurate.”

Coetzee said the fitness of captain and lock Mzwanele Zito (AC joint injury) and loose forward Damon Royle (groin) were in doubt before Friday’s match against the Border Bulldogs at the Madibaz Stadium.

The clash has been moved from NMB Stadium to the Nelson Mandela University campus because the Sanzaar U-20 Rugby Championship tournament will be played at NMB Stadium from April 27 to May 9.

“Zito and Royle are big players for us, and we will assess both injuries during the week,” Coetzee said.

“A positive for us is that loan players Dandre Delport [hooker] and Jac van der Walt [loose forward] will be eligible to play against Border.

“They are on loan to us from Griquas, and the deal was they did not want them to be included in our lineup on Saturday.”

Scorers:

EP Elephants 9: Penalties: Maxwell Klaasen (3).

Griquas 52: Tries: Cameron Hufke (2), Keagan Blackenberg, Sako Makata, Carel van der Merwe, Dylan Maart, Gurswin Wehr, and a penalty try (worth seven points). Conversions: Liam Koen (2), George Whitehead (3).

Other scores: Pumas 85 Leopards 0, Boland Cavaliers 74 Border Bulldogs 5, SWD Eagles 17 Cheetahs 26, Griffons 36 Falcons 68.

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