Pick of the four matches in Monday night’s second round of the FNB Varsity Cup is probably the clash between UCT and NWU-Pukke at Grootte Schuur in Cape Town.
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Not that the other three matches are not important. In Pretoria Tukkies host traditional intervarsity rivals University of Johannesburg (UJ) while Shimlas, looking red-hot, are at home to NMMU. Maties play Tshwane University for Technology (TUT) in Stellenbosch.
Ikeys and Pukke meet in a repeat of the 2008 and 2009 semifinals, at the same venue. The visitors upstaged the Capetonians 19-17 last year to progress to the final where they eventually went down 6-11 to the Maties.
But matches between the Ikeys and Pukke are always tough contests; in fact, the biggest winning margin has been six just points between these two sides, ironically the first time they met in the Varsity Cup – Pukke winning 23-17.
Since then, UCT went on to beat Pukke 32-31 (in their dramatic 2008 semifinal meeting), before the Pukke gained revenge twice last year – at home and away, the latter, of course, being the semifinal in Cape Town.
“History is not a big thing for us – it’s about next week’s game… and getting over the disappointment of the Shimlas match,” said Ikeys coach John Dobson.
“Win or lose our games against Pukke have always been tight – I think the winner has never won by more than four or five points – so I am expecting another dog-fight against a quality team.”
** While UJ will run on against Tukkies in Pretoria with an unchanged team, the home side have made seven changes – six of them enforced by injury or illness. The website varsitycup.co.za reports that UJ coach Hugo van As was true to the adage that one doesn’t change a winning side.
UJ beat TUT Vikings 28-14 in the opening round of the competition last Monday, making sure of maximum points and their current second-place position on the standings of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
UJ’s star fullback Earl Lewis – who played Currie Cup rugby for the Lions last year – will once again be amongst the replacements for the University of Johannesburg and his game-breaking abilities will test Tuks when he gets a chance off the bench against last year’s semifinalists.
But Tukkies, despite their injuries, are far from being weakened. Coach Freddie Grobler has been granted the use of three players who played for the Bulls in the warm-up against the Lions last weekend.
Winger Deon Helberg, big and fast, became a Sevens Springbok in the IRB Sevens World Series in George, and Grobler had the further luxury of selecting flank Devin Oosthuizen and lock Cornel for the UJ clash.
The varsitycup website reports that Tuks also will also not be limited to only one recognised place kicker.
Justin van Staden replaces injured Aaron Denenga at left-wing. He usually plays fullback but will be at home in the No.11 jersey. Against Pukke last week designated place kicker Gertjie Smith failed with four attempts at goal.
** Elsewhere, in the Varsity Cup, Shimlas will be looking for a first win – after their 30-30 draw against UCT last Monday – when they host the NMMU Madibas in Bloemfontein, whilst the Maties juggernaut will be looking to roll on when they host the TUT Vikings.
Monday’s fixtures:
4.30pm: UCT v Pukke, Groote Schuur, Cape Town (TV)
6.30pm: Shimlas v NMMU, Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (TV)
6.30pm: Tuks v UJ, Tuks Athletics Stadium
7.30pm: Maties v TUT, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
