EP braced for hard-nosed set piece battle in Welkom, says Coetzee

EP must be clinical and keep mistakes to a minimum when they face the Griffons in what is expected to be a hard-nosed set-piece battle in Welkom on Saturday, says Elephants coach Allister Coetzee.

After romping to a 71-14 win over the hapless Border Bulldogs in their previous SA Cup outing, EP are expecting a much tougher clash against the Griffons (kickoff 3pm).

It was EP’s second win of the season after seven rounds, and has given them a boost ahead of their remaining matches against the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers.

EP achieved their goal of putting the Border Bulldogs to bed in a potentially catastrophic banana skin match when they emerged emphatic 71-14 winners in an SA Cup rugby encounter, relieved Elephants coach Allister Coetzee said. It was EP’s second win of the season after seven rounds and has given them a boost ahead of their remaining matches against the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers. The Bulldogs, who have yet to register a point, remained rooted to the bottom of the log after a humiliating defeat at the Madibaz Stadium in Gqeberha against their arch-rivals. “The thing about this Border game is that when you put up a big score, people say it is expected,” Coetzee said. “If you lose it, then you are in big trouble, and it is a banana peel. “This was about EP and our growth and not about the opposition. “We knew this was the so-called Eastern Cape derby, and I said to the players it should not be this big derby thing. “No, because you trained right and the plan is right, so you must go and execute and put them to bed, and they did just that.” Coetzee said EP had to contend with major injury problems ahead of the clash. “In total we had eight starting players out,” he said. “We have depth in the squad, and the new players brought in an unbelievable energy and accuracy we have been striving to get all season. “EP want to play with accuracy, determination and a high tempo so we can determine the momentum in the game. “Against the Bulldogs our lineouts were outstanding as well as our mauling “There is a good mix with forwards and backs, and the guys coming off the bench did a hell of a lot of damage as well. There is growth which I can see. “We had a tough start to the season, and this is not an easy Border side to play against. “I think this is the biggest score EP has put on Border by far, and we also had all the injuries to contend with. “It shows this EP team has learnt resilience in that when they are down, they get back on the horse and come back. “That is a sign the guys are getting mature in certain aspects of the game.” Disappointed Border Bulldogs coach Dumisani Mhani said: “We are hurting after this loss. “We have to put our heads together and plan the way forward. “The Bulldogs lost to a better-organised team. “We have to pick ourselves up for the last two games and prepare for the Currie Cup First Division, which starts shortly. “If we are not positive, we won’t achieve anything.” EP, who led 26-7 at halftime, overpowered the Bulldogs with a strong second-half display of running rugby which carved open Border’s defence. The Bulldogs reduced the Elephants’ lead to 26-14 after 49 minutes before the floodgates opened with a torrent of tries. EP outscored Border by 11 tries to two on another difficult afternoon for the embattled side from KuGompo City. Scorers: EP Elephants 71: Tries: Mpho Ntsane (3), Kamvelihle Fatyela (3), Troy Delport (2), Richman Gora, Jaydon Bantom, Jac van der Walt. Conversions: Maxwell Klaaasen (3), Garth April (4), Troy Delport. Border Bulldogs 14: Tries: Simthembile Zozi (2). Conversions: Isiphe Mbini (2). Other scores: Griquas 44 Pumas 34, SWD Eagles 45 Griffons 24, Falcons 43 Cheetahs 36, Leopards 12 Boland Cavaliers 33. Log (all teams have played seven matches): Griquas 35, Pumas 28, SWD Eagles 27, Boland Cavaliers 25, Cheetahs 25, Falcons 19, EP Elephants 12, Griffons 11, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

EP outscored Border by 11 tries to two on what proved to be another difficult afternoon for the embattled side from KuGompo City. EP’s try scorers against the Bulldogs were Mpho Ntsane (3), Kamvelihle Fatyela (3), Troy Delport (2), Richman Gora, Jaydon Bantom and Jac van der Walt.

“The boys will reset after the win over the Border Bulldogs,” Coetzee said. “Our squad have hung in all season and worked hard.

“Every Monday the squad reset, and there is always a plan and a great training session to start the week. They kept on digging to get to their best by cutting out mistakes and improving their game knowledge every week.

“It is important we start afresh every week and it will be the same ahead of the Griffons game. It is never easy going to Welkom and also there is an altitude factor.

“It will be a harder surface compared to the one we played on against the Bulldogs at the Madibaz Stadium.

“I am expecting a massive set-piece battle and if you make mistakes, the Griffons will punish you. We will definitely be in the fight in the set-piece duel and we must be clinical.”

Coetzee said EP’s last two SA Cup games will be vital to ensure the Elephants are well prepared for their Currie Cup First Division campaign, which kicks off after the SA Cup.

“The last two games are so important to build on what we started against the Bulldogs,” he said. “The focus will switch to how we want to play in the Currie Cup. I have seen how these players have learnt and grown, and that will put us in good stead for the Currie Cup.

“EP want to play with accuracy, determination and a high tempo so that we can determine the momentum in the game. Against the Bulldogs our lineouts were outstanding, as well as our mauling.”

A rampant EP Elephants side charged to an emphatic 71-14 win over the struggling Border Bulldogs in a lopsided SA Cup rugby encounter at the Madibaz Stadium on Friday. It was EP’s second win of the season after seven rounds and has given them a boost ahead of their remaining matches against the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers. The Bulldogs, who have yet to register a point, remained rooted to the bottom of the log after a humiliating defeat in Gqeberha against their arch-rivals. EP, who led 26-7 at halftime, overpowered the Bulldogs with a strong second-half display of running rugby which carved open Border’s defence. The Bulldogs reduced the Elephants’ lead to 26-14 after 49 minutes before the floodgates opened with a torrent of tries. EP outscored Border by 11 tries to two on another difficult afternoon for the embattled side from KuGompo City. Scorers: EP Elephants 71: Tries: Mpho Ntsane (3), Kamvelihle Fatyela (3), Troy Delport (2), Richman Gora, Jaydon Bantom, and Jac van der Walt. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (3), Garth April (4), Troy Delport. Border Bulldogs 14: Simthembile Zozi (2). Conversions: Isiphe Mbini (2). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

The Griffons are licking their wounds after they slumped to a 45–24 defeat against the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park last week. The Eagles built a solid platform in the opening half, going into the break with a 19-10 advantage.

Tries by Nico Leonard and Rosco Syster, along with a powerful finish from Dylan de Leeuw, gave the hosts control, while Fred Zeilinga added two conversions.

The Griffons remained in touch through a penalty goal by Dehovine Johannes and a late try from Larren Buys, converted by Johannes. The home side turned the screws after the break, running in four more tries as their forward pack and backline combined effectively.

The calamities within the Border Bulldogs’ campaign in the Super Cup competition have sparked a rallying call from the union for support ahead of another potential tough clash against the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday. The Bulldogs have become the whipping boys of the competition, losing all seven of their matches, many by big margins, leaving detractors wondering if the team is good enough. While the gap between well-resourced professional teams and semi-professional sides has been identified as one of the reasons for the hapless display, the Bulldogs have not fared any better against their equally struggling counterparts. This was displayed by their 71-14 loss to their provincial neighbours the EP Elephants, who shipped in 11 tries to two scored by Simthembile Zozi at the Madibaz Stadium in Gqeberha last weekend. The loss followed their 74-5 hammering by the Boland Kavaliers, piling the pressure on coach Dumisani Mhani to stop the rot. Mhani, whose hopes of turning the tide with the return of Varsity Shield players appear to be fading, has been searching for the right combination, to no avail. While they are underdogs in away matches, the Bulldogs have not fared any better at home, demonstrated by big losses in their two games against the SWD Eagles and Airlink Pumas. The Eagles handed them a 57-22 defeat at Hudson Park in KuGompo City, when they capitulated in the second half, while the Pumas turned them into puppies with a 94-5 drubbing at the Sisa Dukushe Stadium in Mdantsane, where they will welcome the Cheetahs on Saturday. Border Rugby Union president Zuko Badli admitted that the results had not met the standard the union, players and supporters expected. “Border Rugby acknowledges the frustration and disappointment felt by our supporters following the recent performance of the Bulldogs,” he said. Badli said the union and coaches were taking steps to address the situation, which included a review of on-field performances while strengthening key areas within the squad. While the team has shown a commendable fighting spirit, reflected by its ability to cross the try line in all matches, the fitness levels are cited as the biggest weakness, with Mhani admitting that they were currently a 40-minute outfit. This has been attributed to poor conditioning, with the team conceding the majority of points after the break. Though he is understood to have raised the matter in review meetings, Mhani has declined to comment about it in public. Badli said players’ fitness was one of the areas receiving attention. “The review includes reinforcing discipline, fitness and structures required to compete at the highest level,” he said. Facing the Cheetahs, who are coming off a surprising 43-36 loss to Valke in Johannesburg at the weekend, will be a tall order for Mhani’s troops, with another potential big loss predicted. Badli called on supporters to stand behind the team and offer a 16th player while the union was addressing shortcomings behind the scenes. “Your support, both in the stadium and beyond, remains a vital source of motivation for the team and the players. “Difficult moments are part of any sporting journey, and it is during these times that unity matters most. “The players are determined to respond with a performance that reflects the pride and fighting spirit of Border Rugby.” After the Cheetahs, the Bulldogs will be left with one game, against Valke, to turn their fortunes around. Click here to join the Daily Dispatch’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered straight to your phone. Daily Dispatch

Weekend fixtures

Saturday:

• Falcons v Leopards;
• Griffons v EP Elephants;
• Griquas v SWD Eagles;
• Border Bulldogs v Cheetahs.

Sunday:

• Pumas v Boland Cavaliers

Log (all teams have played seven matches)

1. Griquas 35;
2. Pumas 28;
3. SWD Eagles 27;
4. Boland Cavaliers 25;
5. Cheetahs 25;
6. Falcons 19;
7. EP Elephants 12;
8. Griffons 11;
9. Leopards 7;
10. Border Bulldogs 0.

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