Coach Dumisani Mhani says there are no standout players, and it is a full-scale team effort that brought the Eastern Province rugby side success this year.
Well, the Kariega rugby community can be forgiven if they don’t agree with the coach because in their eyes the three Progress Rugby Club players are the superstars of the team.
In fact, they are the DRS of the team as rugby (and Formula 1 racing) fan Lewis Fortuin explained to me in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this past Saturday during halftime of the match between the Elephants and the Griffons.
“DRS man. I see you don’t understand. In Formula 1 Racing the drivers use DRS (Drag Reduction System) to make it easier to accelerate.
“The Elephants also use DRS to get into top gear – Davian (Swanepoel), Riaan (Arends) and Sachin (Toring),” he explained.
Lewis hit the nail on the head because the Kariega Three (another description of the three players by a member of the Metro Community Band) has performed consistently well for the Elephants throughout the campaign in the Currie Cup First Division.
Speaking of the band, it was great to see the local Kariega brass band making its first appearance in the stadium to help create a wonderful vibe at the Griffons-match. It wasn’t difficult to notice that the band members have a soft spot for certain players, the Kariega Three, the team’s DRS.
They had to wait for Toring to get on to the field as a replacement in the second half, but the scrumhalf once again impressed with his quick service to the backline. When Toring steps onto the field he injects energy and gives the players on his outside more time and space to attack.
He is one of those players who the opposition can never let out of their sight. Toring can come up with the unexpected and is the perfect impact player, although one also wants to see more of him in the starting line-up.
Swanepoel (right wing) and Arends (centre) are players who know where the try line is. They have that special ability to go and score a try when there is the slightest opportunity. Both are strong on attack and defence and have a tremendous work rate.
One sometimes must check whether Swanepoel is playing on the right or left wing as he covers the whole field in no time to support his teammates.
He is also solid under the high ball which gives his team mates a lot of confidence when they come up against some shrewd tactical kickers. They know Davian will be there to secure the ball.
It was a tough day at the office for the Elephants with the Griffons winning 23-13 and the chances of getting promoted to the Currie Cup Premier Division are now very slim.
Still, it is one of the Elephants best seasons in a long while and this coming Saturday is another chance to see them in action in the stadium against the Zimbabwe Goshawks.
Let’s accelerate with the Kariega DRS!
) There are also three players from Despatch included in the EP Elephants team: Duan du Plessis, Arnold Kleyn and Diego Williams.
