EP must fix their shambolic line-out play if they want to beat regional rivals the Border Bulldogs in their next SA Cup outing in East London on April 26, Elephants coach Allister Coetzee says.
Hard work lies ahead on the training pitch for the wounded Elephants after they were thrashed 70-17 by a rampant Griquas side in Kimberley last week.
After holding a narrow 14-10 halftime lead, Griquas turned on the afterburners and scored 56 points in a one-sided second half at the Suzuki Stadium.
After their clash against Border, EP complete their season with home matches against the Griffons (May 3) and Boland Cavaliers (May 10) at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
“There is stuff we will work on,” Coetzee said.
“The big problem against Griquas was that we never got the proper ball from our line-outs, and they were in a shambles.
“If you don’t get that kind of possession you cannot fire shots.
“I know Griquas are a good line-out-contesting side, but we were very poor with our line-out work and that will be a big focus area for us in the build-up to the Border clash.”
“EP are having a break this weekend and then we will focus on our next one, which is Border away.”
The Elephants were left with injury concerns after their heavy defeat in Kimberley.
“We had two props who left the field in the second half against Griquas,” Coetzee said.
“Siya Nzuzo went off for a concussion and he will be out for the next three weeks, and Zukisa Sali came off with a sore back.
“EP need depth to sustain the pressure and that is maybe where we are still lacking.
“We will take on board the lessons learnt in Kimberley.
“If EP want to play in the Currie Cup Premier Division in future, this is the kind of pressure you will be under.”
EP know they will be in for a tough seventh-round clash against a Bulldogs outfit who have endured a miserable season.
They will be determined to end a long losing streak against their regional rivals, who will arrive at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on the back of a drubbing at the hands of Griquas.
At the end of the season, the top four teams in the 10-team log will earn qualification to play in the Currie Cup Premier Division.
Coach Pieter Bergh’s Griquas side have proved to be the outstanding team in the SA Cup.
The Northern Cape outfit have amassed a staggering 416 points in their six matches while their defence have conceded 111 points.
With only three league rounds remaining before the playoffs, Griquas and the Pumas are still leading the table on 30 points each.
The Cheetahs are third on 22 points, which is two more than the Cavaliers, Griffons and Falcons.
EP are seventh on 12 points, with the defeat in the Northern Cape a big blow to their semifinal aspiration, while SWD (seven points), the Leopards (four) and Border (two) complete the standings.
The Cheetahs’ challenge for promotion gathered momentum when they overpowered the SWD Eagles 87-15 after leading 26-15 in Bloemfontein.
The Free Staters scored 13 tries to two and pulled away in the second half after the Eagles had put up an admirable fight in the opening half.
Seventh-round fixtures:
April 25: Pumas v Griquas (Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela).
April 26: Boland Cavaliers v Leopards (Boland Stadium, Wellington), Border Bulldogs v EP Elephants (Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane), Griffons v SWD Eagles (Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom), Cheetahs v Falcons (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein).
The Herald
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