Van Schalkwyk to lead Elephants

FORMER Italian Test star Dries van Schalkwyk will lead the EP Elephants into battle when they face champions Western Province in a SuperSport Rugby Challenge clash at the Wolfson Stadium in Kwazakhele on Sunday.

Van Schalkwyk, who was in the Italian side that toppled the Springboks in Florence two years ago, is one of eight Southern Kings PRO14 players in the Elephants starting line-up.

Other Kings players in the run-on EP side are Allandre van Rooyen, Entienne Swanepoel, Giant Mtyanda, Eitel Bredenkamp, Jurie van Vuuren, Freddie Ngoza and Freddie Muller while Siya Mdaka and Juan-Phillip Smith are on the bench.

Also included in the side are Madibaz and club players.

“We have been training with this squad all week. In the backline there are some players who played for me last year, so there will be some continuity in that regard,” coach Ryan Felix said.

“In training you could see these boys know one another and they played together for me in EP U19 and U21 so they know the system. Last year we were dominated in the scrums, bit now we have a solid pack of forwards.”

Felix said he would take it week by week in the competition.

He said the Sunday’s game, which will be on live television, was a wonderful chance for club players to showcase their skills on a bigger stage.

The EP team is (Nos 1 to 22): Xander Vos, Allandre van Rooyen, Entienne Swanepoel, Giant Mtyanda, Dries van Schalkwyk (captain), Eitel Bredenkamp, Jurie van Vuuren, Freddie Ngoza and Freddie Muller, Henrique Olivier, Siphu Msutwana, Andile Jho, Siyanda Grey, Riaan Arendse, Keanu Vers. Replacements: Mbeko Kota, Johan van Wyk, Wynand Grassmann, Siya Mdaka, JuanPhillip Smith, Reuben de Vos, Nkululeko Marwana.