Hendrik Petrus (HP) van Schoor is eyeing an early wedding gift when the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers hooker will be hoping he can help his side win their round nine SA Cup game against the Eastern Province (EP) Elephants this coming weekend in Gqeberha.
A win against the Elephants on Saturday will mean the Cavas qualify for the SA Cup semi-final and, more notably, secure promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division later this year.
Van Schoor, who scored two vital tries in Sanlam Boland Cavaliers’ 32-34 loss to the Airlink Pumas this past weekend to bag two crucial losing bonus points, will want to book a spot in the Currie Cup, which will be the perfect way to start preparing for another big day when he and fiancé Sanri Bezuidenhout officially tie the knot on 21 June.
But the front-rower knows beating Elephants will not be easy, after the Eastern Cape team, now coached by former Springboks coach Allister Coetzee, threatened to spoil the Cavas’ perfect run in last year’s Currie Cup First Division.
Do-or-die battle
The teams played to an entertaining 27-27 draw in the Currie Cup First Division final at Boland Rugby Stadium, which went into extra time. Boland were crowned champions thanks to scoring more tries than the Elephants in the final.
Although Van Schoor did not play a part in that final, he saw just how dangerous the Eastern Cape side can be when they are underestimated.
“The thing I have seen with the EP team is that they have grown into a more cohesive unit throughout this SA Cup campaign. They have been getting better game by game,” Van Schoor warns.
“In the past, games against them have been physical encounters. They have some big men, and I have become accustomed to some of their players in my playing days at other unions. There is a lot of talented players from the Eastern Cape that ply their trade elsewhere, and it is good for SA Rugby that they are trying to improve with Allister Coetzee doing a good job there.
“When it comes to playing against them, you can never say it is going to be an easy game, because they always show up when it comes to playing against Boland, especially when we play them at their home ground.”
According to Van Schoor, Saturday’s clash will see two teams with contrasting styles taking each other head-on.
“We are two teams that play the game differently but both styles are beautiful to watch and it is going to be massive game and one that could go till the end with the team that wants it more coming out the winner,” the hooker says.
“Although they don’t have a chance at reaching the semi-finals, I think they will be playing for pride and rebuilding the union’s name. It is going to be a huge battle.”
Bonus point hero
Cavas fans, however, know that if it were not for Van Schoor’s 80th-minute try, along with some brilliant build-up and creative play from players like Xavier Mitchell and replacement Darian Hock in last week’s narrow loss to the Pumas, talks of playing in a semi-final and Currie Cup promotion would not have been possible ahead of this weekend’s big clash.
This is a true testament to the resolve and approach of the entire Sanlam Boland Cavaliers team, especially when the going gets tough.
The humble hooker does not want to take all the credit for his team securing two bonus-points that has kept them in fourth place on the SA Cup log, with a win against the Elephants that will be enough to see them reach a goal that was set out by head coach Hawies Fourie, after last year’s title-winning campaign in the First Division.
“My first try came from a maul, so I consider myself the lucky one to be at the back of that movement to go and fall over the line, Van Schoor recalls his team’s late fightback.
“Our forwards put in lots of hard work during the week in preparation for the Pumas, and it was our goal to try and dominate with our physicality, and both my tries can be described as us getting that physical dominance at the end.
“So those two tries [the second from a pick and go] have nothing to do with me but more with us as a forward pack working hard for each other. Something we have been doing this whole season. It is just a pity that we could not win the game.
“The important thing is that those two crucial scores mean that the destiny of getting to the semi-finals and Currie Cup promotion is now up to us and not reliant on what has to happen in other games.”
Teamwork makes the dream work
Although he is currently playing second fiddle to the seasoned campaigner Sidney Tobias (36), Van Schoor says he relishes the responsibility he has been given to come and fulfil an impactful role off the bench.
The former Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale pupil believes he has been feeding off the experience of his 36-year-old hooker mate, : “How unbelievable is it not to see him [Tobias] still running around at the age of 36? I don’t think I would be able to play like that at his age – even if I were playing on a PlayStation console.
“Sidney is very experienced, and we try and bring the best out of each other, and both of us understand the plan and what we are working towards. Both of us have a deep love for Boland rugby.
“There is a huge respect for each other, and although we are very competitive, we remain good friends off the field.”