A tale of two coaches
Not only is tonight’s top-of-the-log Varsity Cup match between Stellenbosch and UCT a clash between the best two teams since the inception of the competition, but it also pits the tournament’s longest-serving, and most successful, coaches against each other.
Maties coach Chean Roux and UCT mentor John Dobson have both been in charge of their respective teams since the start of the Varsity Cup, with Roux guiding the Men in Maroon to back-to-back titles and Dobson presiding over the Ikeys’ top-of-the-log finish in 2008 and their second-place finish in 2009.
Having seen, last week, just how closely-fought the Varsity Cup league has been between the two top sides in this tournament (see the overall log HERE), coaches Roux and Dobson – and their teams – have had some interesting tussles in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Their first Varsity Cup fixture, in George in 2008, saw bragging rights go to UCT (by 38-34), before the Maties avenged that defeat with a last-gasp 16-10 victory in the final later that season.
Roux’s side won their second league encounter 12-10 in Cape Town last year (giving them a 2-1 overall lead in the Varsity Cup), but tonight is more than just about who will earn the ultimate bragging rights in the Western Cape – it is about two of South Africa’s most talented, and refreshing, coaches going head-to-head in South Africa’s biggest derby game outside of the Currie Cup and the Super 14.
And, having coached against both teams in the 2008 Varsity Cup – putting one over both Roux and Dobson in that season, whilst still in charge of Pukke – Stormers forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot is probably better placed than most to comment on the match-up between the Maties and Ikeys coaches.
“What Chean and Dobbo have put into Stellenbosch and UCT, respectively, is quite simply immense,” Proudfoot told varsitycup.co.za, “they’ve been fantastic for their respective institutions.
“Don’t forget that both of these guys are, in essence, semi-professional coaches in charge of semi-professional teams, and yet they put a lot of time and effort into coaching and their attention to detail is outstanding – they leave no stone unturned.
“(And) that’s what I respect about them the most – the time and effort they put in,” added Proudfoot. “They go above and beyond and do a lot more than what’s required from coaches in their position.”
Looking at Roux and Dobson, as individuals, Proudfoot continued: “Their approaches are very different.
“With Dobbo, well, you never quite know what to expect! He’ll always pull a fast one, and I mean that in the nicest way possible, and that’s why he’s been so successful.
“With Chean, however, you know what you’re going to get – but, yet, his attention to detail and preparation is always spot on. Teams coached by him always have physical packs and he is a very, very good motivator.”
Aside from coaching against them in the Varsity Cup, Proudfoot has had plenty to do with both Roux and Dobson since moving to Cape Town – from Potchefstroom – last year.
The Maties and the Ikeys played friendlies against the Stormers during the teams’ pre-season training in 2009 and 2010, whilst many Stellenbosch and UCT players form a crucial part of the set-up in the Stormers and Western Province squads.
And, knowing both coaches well, and their players, too, Proudfoot believes tonight’s encounter will be won by the better prepared side – but, either way, he is eagerly looking forward to what he terms a “special match”.
“I found, in the past when I coached against Chean, that in order to beat Maties you need to overcome their attitude – if you don’t, well, they’ll simply eat you alive,” said Proudfoot, who is hoping to attend the match at the Danie Craven Stadium.
“UCT, in my mind, are the only side that don’t fear Coetzenburg – they play there often and they know what it’s about. They’re the only side, at this stage, that are capable of beating the Maties and I’m expecting a ding-dong battle.”
By Howard Kahn
* Tonight’s match will be televised live on SuperSport One at 8.30pm!
