'Clinical' Maties please Roux
FNB Maties coach Chean Roux was pleased with his side’s ‘clinical’ 47-11 semifinal win over FNB Pukke on Monday evening, but he would like to see more of the same in next week’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International Final against FNB UCT.
The Maties, the back-to-back defending Varsity Cup champions, completed their second victory over the Pukke in the space of one week to book yet another home final at the Danie Craven Stadium – a result, frankly, that was not in doubt at any point this season.
Said Roux: “There is no such thing as a bad Pukke team, so I was very happy with the guys’ clinical performance on the night.
“Unfortunately, the wind blew again; I guess you don’t want the wind to have a bearing on proceedings, but, at the end of the day, we played the conditions better and deserved the win.
“Things were still pretty tight just after half-time [the Maties led 21-11], and it could’ve gone either way… but we kept the ball well and played the conditions well in the end.”
Of course, Maties’ win came after UCT’s 27-21 semifinal victory over FNB Shimlas in Cape Town earlier in the afternoon – setting up yet another all-Cape Varsity Cup Final in Stellenbosch.
“As I said before our pool match (against UCT in Stellenbosch two weeks ago), the team that does not fire could be in for a big hiding,” Roux told varsitycup.co.za ahead of the final. “The same applies for this coming Monday.
“It will be a great occasion and there will be 30 very, very fired-up players taking to the field (come Monday) – motivation will not be a problem for myself or Dobbo [UCT coach John Dobson].
“Dobbo and I have been coaching against each other for a while now, and the players know each other well too, but derbies are tricky things,” added the Maties mentor.
“For instance, look at the Tuks-TUT match earlier this year, TUT were meant to be easy-beats, yet they pushed Tuks all the way. In soccer, the Man Utd-Man City and Liverpool-Everton games never go according to script – so, as you can see, we’re in for one helluva game… no matter what transpires.”
After going into the semifinals without two of his star loose forwards, squad captain Cameron Peverett and form No.8 Tertius Daniller, Roux has some tough selection calls to make this week.
He said: “We picked up no fresh injuries and Cameron and Tertius are both fit, so, somehow I need to get 25 (players) into 23 ahead of Monday.
“At this stage I think there’s a gap for just one of Cameron or Tertius, but I will make that call tonight [Wednesday]. Unfortunately, there is no place for sentiment and I’ve told the guys to bear with me this week…
“As a coach it would be great if you could pick all 30 players to play one match, but sadly that cannot happen. At the end of the day though, I need to pick with my head – not my heart – as, ultimately, I will be judged on the success of the team through the selections that I make.”
Monday’s 2010 Varsity Cup Final, between Maties and the Ikeys, kicks-off at 6.30pm.
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