Players will grow extra arm and leg for EC derby, says Coetzee

Pumped-up EP and Border Bulldogs players will grow an extra arm and leg for Friday’s SA Cup derby battle in Gqeberha, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee says.

After a disappointing start to the season, both teams will be desperate to find an extra gear and lift their level of performance at the Madibaz Stadium (kickoff 3pm).

The match was moved to the Nelson Mandela University campus because the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship kicks off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (EP’s usual home venue) on Monday.

EP have won only one of their opening six matches, while bottom of the log Border have yet to win a game and are anchored at the bottom of the 10-team log.

“When EP and Border clash, the players always grow an extra arm and leg for the derby,” Coetzee said.

“The Elephants have to be as accurate and clinical as we can be against the Bulldogs in our last home game.

“If EP goes according to the plans we have in place, we should be fine.

“The Elephants have to learn from our showing against Griquas, and we have to have better discipline against Border.

A limping EP Elephants side, with only one SA Cup win to their name after six outings, are learning tough lessons that only come when facing adversity, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee says. After watching his team crash to a 52-9 defeat against high-flying Griquas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, Coetzee said players would not learn anything if everything was going well for them. EP are hoping to pull off their second win of the season when they face a winless Border Bulldogs outfit at the Madibaz Stadium at the Nelson Mandela University campus on Friday (3pm kickoff). Border are entrenched at the bottom of the log without a point, while EP are in eighth position after accumulating seven points on the 10-team log. They are tough lessons the players are learning at the moment, but you can only learn when it is tough and you face adversity “They are tough lessons the players are learning at the moment, but you can only learn when it is tough and you face adversity,” Coetzee said. “You won’t learn anything if it is just going well for you. You learn from these tough times. “This is a process, and EP need to go through it to see how we rectify things and show we can adapt on the field. “We’re taking it game by game and we want to get as many wins as possible out of our remaining three fixtures. “By doing well you also set yourself up for the Currie Cup later in the season.” Coetzee heaped praise on Griquas after they overpowered his team with a dominant second half display. “Griquas are the most clinical team in the SA Cup compared to the other so-called big teams,” he said. “They have more pace and they are a more physical side than the Cheetahs or Pumas. “In all three of the games against the big teams EP were in the fight and we fought with physicality. “It is a short turnaround and I am sure the boys will be up for the Border game. “I would not say conceding 52 points against Griquas is ideal, but if you look back to our game against them in 2025 it shows that EP stayed in the fight. If you want to go to the Currie Cup Premier Division, this is what you face every weekend and not just once in a while like it is in the SA Cup “If you want to go to the Currie Cup Premier Division, this is what you face every weekend and not just once in a while like it is in the SA Cup. “The way this EP team is growing is a big positive for me. “I think flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen’s kicking is coming along nicely. “A lot of youngsters are gaining confidence, like Jaydon Bantom at the back.” Coetzee said the fitness of captain and lock Mzwanele Zito (AC joint injury) and loose forward Damon Royle (groin) meant the two players were in doubt for the Bulldogs clash. “Zito and Royle are big players for us, and we will assess both injuries during the week,” he 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.” SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches): Griquas 30, Pumas 27, Cheetahs 23, SWD Eagles 22, Boland Cavaliers 20, Falcons 14, Griffons 11, EP Elephants 7, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0 Weekend fixtures: Friday: EP v Border Bulldogs, Leopards v Boland Cavaliers. Saturday: Falcons v Cheetahs, SWD Eagles v Griffons, Griquas v Pumas Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“We will not be underestimating Border despite their low position on the log.”

Despite the tough start to the season, Coetzee said there had been positive signs.

“The way this EP team is growing is a big positive for me,” he said.

“I think flyhalf Maxwell Klaasen’s kicking is coming along nicely.

If the struggling EP Elephants want to achieve the level of success their coaches, supporters and management crave, they must recruit high-quality players to boost their squad, Griquas coach Pieter Bergh says. Bergh made the assessment after a second-half try-scoring blitz powered his Currie Cup-winning team to a 52-9 win over EP at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday. The Elephants were still in the fight at halftime when they trailed 14-9, but Griquas turned on the after-burners in the second half to stretch their winning SA Cup streak to six matches. “You can see the structures are there with this EP team, and you can see what Allister Coetzee (head coach) and Matt Proudfoot (forwards coach) are trying to do,” Bergh said. “A good coach is not enough. “You need good players and you need to hold onto these players and build a team. “You also need continuity. “What Heyneke Meyer (head coach at the SWD Eagles) has done is to put together a whole new squad in six months that can compete. “EP do lack a bit of quality, but the structure is there “I was very concerned about this game, and the first half showed what EP can do. “You don’t have two or three years to build a team; you have to get it right quickly. “You can see there is progress (at EP), but you need good players as well.” Bergh said EP dominated the kicking game in the first half, which had forced Griquas to change their strategy at halftime. “I thought EP dominated the kicking game in the first half and almost played a Test match type of game where they kicked a lot of contestables and tried to turn us around at every opportunity they got, and we lost the aerial battle. “Griquas did not get any territory so the message at halftime was if can we just start winning those small little kicking battles, and get field position and territory, then we can strangle them “I thought that penalty try just before halftime started to change things for us. “We said we have to break EP down and force some bad kicks and get some counter-attacks going “And that is what happened in the second half. ‘We strangled EP and got scrums, lineout dominance and territory which allowed us to apply pressure." Bergh said Griquas’ ambition is to be the best non-United Rugby Championship side in SA. “There are talks of Griquas playing in an international competition and hopefully something will be announced shortly,” he said. Our ambition is to be the best non-URC team in SA, and that is not just based on performance. It will also be based on our team culture, finances and how the union is run and how we look after our players “I can’t say which tournament yet. “Our ambition is to be the best non-URC team in SA, and that is not just based on performance. “It will also be based on our team culture, finances and how the union is run and how we look after our players. “When the opportunity becomes available to play in an overseas competition, we want to be ready. “Griquas want to show we deserve an opportunity to play at that level. “We don’t look too far ahead, and we need another win to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division. “Hopefully we can get that win as soon as possible. “We want to qualify for the Currie Cup and then try and win the SA Cup, and we also want to defend our Currie Cup title. “Griquas are in a good position now, but we have the Pumas this week, which is going to be a really tough game in Kimberley.” Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“A lot of youngsters are gaining confidence, like Jaydon Bantom at the back.”

Last week the Pumas and Griquas pulled away from the chasing pack with resounding wins in their sixth-round fixtures while the Cheetahs moved up the log after a good away win in George.

The Pumas beat the Leopards 85-0 in Nelspruit on Friday evening, and on Saturday, Griquas recorded their sixth straight win when they defeated EP 52-9 in Gqeberha.

In Welkom the Falcons beat the Griffons 68-36, the Boland Cavaliers outplayed Border 74-5 in Wellington, and the Cheetahs came from behind to down the SWD Eagles 26-17 in George.

Unbeaten Griquas are out in front with 30 league points, followed by defending champions Pumas three points back in second place on 27.

The Cheetahs are sitting third on 23 points, one ahead of fourth-placed SWD (22). Boland are currently just outside the playoffs on 20 points, with the leading quintet followed by the Falcons (14), Griffons (11), EP and Leopards (7 apiece) and winless Border (0).

The coming weekend sees the third-to-last round of league games.

The EP versus Border game will be followed by another Friday fixture in Potchefstroom between the Leopards and Boland (6pm).

In the three Saturday encounters, all starting at 3.30pm, SWD meet the Griffons in George; the Falcons entertain the Cheetahs in Kempton Park; and there is a top-of-the-table clash in Kimberley between Griquas and the Pumas.

The four top teams after the single round of fixtures qualify for the semi-finals and automatic entry to the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.

SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches): Griquas 30, Pumas 27, Cheetahs 23, SWD Eagles 22, Boland Cavaliers 20, Falcons 14, Griffons 11, EP Elephants 7, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0.

Weekend fixtures: Friday: EP v Border Bulldogs, Leopards v Boland Cavaliers. Saturday: Falcons v Cheetahs, SWD Eagles v Griffons, Griquas v Pumas.

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