The Border Bulldogs loss by more than a century to the Griquas in the SA Cup at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane at the weekend left their shell-shocked supporters broken-hearted.
The Border men’s team were annihilated by a cricket-like score of 118-3 on Friday.
This was the second consecutive 100-plus score the Griquas have racked up against the Bulldogs in the competition which was formed in 2024.
Head coach Dumisani Mhani’s emotions were visible from afar, with his face etched with heartbreak as the Bulldogs registered their third loss of the competition.
Other than three points from the boot of Maxwell Klaasen, there was nothing to write home about for Border compared with the Griquas’ 18 tries.
Former Border player and six-capped Springbok Russell Bennett said the loss was extremely heartbreaking.
“I hope one day we can be proud of Border Rugby again,” Bennett said.
Former Walter Sisulu University All Blacks coach Akhona Mgijma questioned the model of the SA Cup, saying it was unfair, and that professionals could not play against amateurs.
The Bulldogs are considered semi-professional and still use club rugby players, while the Griquas are professional and were Currie Cup finalists in 2022.
“This starts from the Saru funding model of unions and, yes, Border is also responsible for its share, where you only start preparing two months before a tournament and still expect results,” Mgijima said on the Border Rugby Facebook page.
“Now the coaches and players become scapegoats. Border is going to get two more 100 scores should they play against the first teams of other unions.”
Border club rugby official Brad Burton said the Bulldogs results would not improve until it got its club structures right.
“No other union in this country only has a league with only first teams and no second league or under-21 leagues,” he said on Facebook.
“There is no feeder system at club level, which is killing club rugby and the player pool for the union.”
A Bulldogs fanatic said: “Border rugby has the potential to be one of the best rugby provinces in the country, we have to get private enterprise involved and work together with our universities and clubs and cut the red tape and we can get back to what we have seen in the past.
“Border have stood up against the All Blacks, the British Lions in days past.”
Attempts to get a comment from Mhani were unsuccessful at the weekend.
The Bulldogs next game is a home clash against the struggling Leopards who are also yet to win a game after three rounds.
In the earlier game at Sisa Dukashe on Friday involving the Border Ladies and the EP Queens, Border won 27-22, ending their Women’s Premier Division on a high.
Daily Dispatch
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