'Quarterfinals rugby' excites Pienaar

Varsity Cup Chairman Francois Pienaar has described this coming Monday’s last round of league matches as “quarterfinals rugby”, with all eight teams having something to play for – be it semifinal places or simply survival in this exciting tournament.

There are several permutations going into Monday’s final round of action in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, prompting Pienaar to use his “quarterfinal” analogy.

At this stage defending champions, the Maties, and last year’s losing finalists, UCT, have already booked their semifinal places.

However, UCT and Pukke will fight it out on Monday afternoon for the right to host one of the semifinals; Maties still need to beat Tukkies to secure top spot on the log; Pukke, Tuks, UJ and Shimlas will scrap it out for the remaining two semifinal places; and one of TUT or NMMU could still end last and therefore have to play a promotion/relegation match later this year.

“Obviously only the top four teams can go through into the semifinals,” said Pienaar to varsitycup.co.za, “but Monday’s fixtures have a distinct quarterfinal look to them, with plenty to play for.”

The big game in Pienaar’s opinion is the first match of the day – the 4.45pm clash between FNB Pukke and FNB UCT at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom.

“Pukke have a lot to play for and, of course, so do UCT,” said Pienaar, who is hoping to attend that match in Potch.

“They’re expecting a full-house there; Pukke will be looking to book that home semifinal, but so will UCT and we all remember the exciting semifinal game between those two sides last season?!”

The other game worth watching, according to Pienaar, is the Maties-Tukkies clash in Stellenbosch.

“Some might say that Maties have nothing to play for,” said the 1995 World Cup-winning captain, “but, in actual fact, if UCT win and Maties lose to Tukkies, then UCT will end up topping the log.

“So you see, there is loads at stake for everyone – but not just for the guys at the top of the log, with the likes of NMMU and TUT also having plenty to play for in terms of avoiding relegation.”

NMMU, in particular, have impressed Pienaar this year, with him saying: “I love the style of rugby that they play. Unfortunately not all results have gone their way this season, but the promise they have shown has been great to see.”

Pienaar’s former Springbok and Transvaal teammate Hennie le Roux has helped out as technical advisor to the ‘Madibas’ this season, along with another former Bok, André Vos.

Said Pienaar: “Hennie played with me at the old RAU, but, of course, he cut his teeth at the old UPE (now NMMU), like André Vos. It’s been great to see Hennie and André involved at NMMU this season and it shows how much of a passion everyone has for university rugby in this country.”

Pienaar and Le Roux recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as part of a fund-raising initiative, whilst Pienaar also took part in the Argus Cycle Tour in Cape Town last week – also to raise money – with famous actor Matt Damon.

Some might consider strenuous exercise like that as pressure, but Pienaar believes the eight head coaches in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International are under even more scrutiny…

“I’d much rather climb Mount Kilimanjaro or pedal a bike up Chapman’s Peak than coach a team in the Varsity Cup; there’s too much pressure,” chuckled Pienaar.

“But it shows the passion of those eight universities and it shows the pride that is at stake,” he added. “It’s a pressure-cooker environment, but we, as the organisers, wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Looking ahead to the semifinals, Pienaar is not at all surprised that the “usual suspects” are again competing for the last four places – “it shows how hard everyone has worked once again” – but he would not be drawn into backing any sides in particular.

“Semifinals are always 50/50 games,” he said. “But if we are treated to just a glimpse of what we saw in last year’s semifinals (UCT v Pukke and Maties v Tukkies), I think we’re once again set for some very exciting semifinals rugby.”

Round Seven Varsity Cup fixtures:
FNB Pukke v FNB UCT, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds – 4.45pm (TV)
FNB NMMU v FNB UJ, Xerox NMMU Stadium, South Campus – 6.45pm
FNB TUT v FNB Shimlas, TUT Stadium – 6.45pm
FNB Maties v FNB Tuks, Danie Craven Stadium – 6.45pm (TV)

Varsity Cup mini-log:
(Played, Won, Points)
1. Maties 6, 6, 27
2. UCT 6, 5, 24
3. Pukke 6, 4, 19
4. Tuks 6, 3, 16
5. UJ 6, 3, 13
6. Shimlas 6, 2, 11
7. NMMU 6, 1, 4
8. TUT 6, 0, 2