Captain's profile: El-Shaun Davids
Bergrivier are the favourites heading into Saturday's FNB Classic Clashes encounter with Weltevrede. But Bergrivier captain El-Shaun Davids is not the type of player to rest on his laurels.
The combative hooker admits to not being the biggest front row player around, but he says, proudly: "I was the smallest hooker at the 2012 Academy Week, but it's nothing to do with your physical size – it's all about what's in your heart."
With that kind of talk it is hardly surprising that they have had a good 2012 season, with big wins over Emil Weder, Weston and Stellenbosch, a win over Langenhoven of Riversdale and defeats with honour at the hands of Schoonspruit and New Orleans.
"We will give them a game," says Davids, "we've worked really hard this week and won't make it easy for them!
The winner will be the side that can handle the pressure the best on the day."
Davids enjoys the responsibility of captaincy and he takes it very seriously, mainly because of the honour but also because he is in Grade Eleven only.
He could end up captaining his school's First XV for two years, but would rather ensure he does the job in 2012 before looking to 2013.
Having played at the 2012 Academy Week for Boland, he loves his rugby and would like to take it further – as a Bolander, before, perhaps, moving to a bigger union somewhere down the line.
He explains: "It all begins here, in the Boland, but maybe one day I will move to the Cheetahs or the Bulls… who knows?"
El-Shaun's rugby hero is none other than Springbok superstar Bismarck du Plessis. Although he is not a Sharks fan, he admires Bismarck's abilities on the park as a hooker.
"The way he steals ball at the breakdown, his rucking… his defence – he's the ultimate hooker. I enjoy those aspects of being a hooker too and he's definitely my big rugby hero."
