The Suzuki Griquas have established themselves as the team to beat in the 2025 SA Cup, maintaining an unbeaten run that now stretches deep into the competition. But while their record remains spotless on paper, head coach Pieter Bergh is the first to admit that last weekend’s clash against Boland was a wake-up call. Seen is Mnombo Zwelendaba of the Suzuki Griquas with ball in hand.
Image: Danie van der Lith
THE SUZUKI Griquas have established themselves as the team to beat in the SA Cup, maintaining an unbeaten run that now stretches to the very start of the competition.
But while their record remains spotless on paper, head coach Pieter Bergh is the first to admit that last weekend’s clash against the Boland Kavaliers was a wake-up call.
The Kimberley-based side were pushed to the limit in that contest, and many would agree they were lucky to escape with the win. Boland brought intensity, structure, and physicality, exposing some vulnerabilities in the Griquas’ game – particularly at scrum time.
“We were really under pressure, and there were a lot of learnings that took place from that game this week in reviews,” Bergh said. “If you are 95% ready for a match, and the opposition are 100% ready, then you can have problems.
“We’ve got to make sure that our mindset is 100% this week.”
That focus is especially important as the Griquas prepare for a dangerous challenge this weekend against Eastern Province (EP), a side that has shown rapid improvement under the guidance of former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee. Despite not having the same pedigree as some of the more established unions, EP has proven they can mix it with the best – pushing the Pumas, Valke, and even the powerful Cheetahs to the brink.
“They’re very structured. They’ve got good players and, in my view, one of the best scrums in the competition,” said Bergh.
“They can keep the ball for long periods of time without going out of shape, which you sometimes see with teams in the lower leagues.
“Allister Coetzee has done a very good job there.”
With a bye scheduled after this week’s fixture and a massive clash against the Pumas on the horizon, Bergh faces a balancing act in terms of squad rotation and continuity.
“When we started the season, there was a lot of opportunity for rotation. But if we rotate too much this week, we risk players going into that Pumas game having not played for three weeks,” he explained.
“So we’ll see again after that Pumas game where we are. Then we’ve got the Eagles and the Cheetahs left, and that will depend on how we approach the last two rounds before hopefully the play-offs.”
One player returning at a critical time for the Griquas is Janco Uys, a powerful scrummaging hooker who has been sidelined with a string of injuries but is now back and ready to contribute.
“He’s a leader. The input he has at scrum sessions and forwards meetings – we missed that,” Bergh said. “He’s one of the best scrummaging hookers in South Africa. Our scrum has struggled the last few weeks, so we’re looking for him to help us there. It’s a good time to have him back at the business end of the season.
“We had to be patient with him after a knee injury and then a hamstring, but we’re excited to have him back.”
The Griquas will need all their firepower firing this weekend. EP will arrive in Kimberley on Friday with belief and a clear plan. According to Bergh, their opponents will look at how Boland disrupted the Griquas and take confidence from that performance.
“They’ll definitely come here and believe. They’ll look at that Boland match and think they have a chance. But we know if we pitch up and we perform at 100%, then they will struggle against us.”
With a play-off spot in their sights and challengers sharpening their weapons, the Griquas know the real battle begins now. Every match from here on is not just about winning – but about fine-tuning for the fierce encounters that lie ahead.
The match kicks off on Friday at 3pm at the Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley.
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