Roux expecting 'massive' onslaught
Stellenbosch coach Chean Roux is preparing his all-conquering students for a ‘massive game’ against defending champions Hamilton’s when the two Western Province heavyweight clubs clash in the semifinals of the 36th SAA National Club Champs at the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday.
Roux, who has coached the FNB Maties to an unprecedented hat-trick of Varsity Cup titles between 2008 and 2010, said Hammies had impressed him in the tournament thus far and would not give up their title without a fight.
“I liked the fact that we got a good workout against Springs.
“Two years ago we won our first two games with big scores and we didn’t know our weak points. Then we played Pukke and were 30 points down at half-time,” said Roux on sarugby.co.za.
“Their previous game was a tight one against UJ and so they were used to that pressure,” he added.
“This time around we’ve had the tight game but it’s not as if I’m going to have a good night’s sleep. We’ve still got one or two things to work on and we must get it right because Hammies are looking seriously good.”
Maties – whose last national club title came in 2007 – and Hammies have met twice this season in the WP Super League, with both sides winning their respective home fixture.
But Roux said his team – who are aiming to win an unprecedented 13th national crown – would have to tighten up their approach if they wanted to challenge the champions.
“We’ve made some mistakes so far and I’d put them down to youthful enthusiasm,” said Chean.
“We’ve perhaps tried too many off-loads instead of being a little bit more conservative and then playing the game from there.”
Should Maties beat Hammies and go on to win the title, the students will complete a rare treble – as WP Super League, Varsity Cup and Club Champs winners in the same season.
But Roux downplayed such an achievement, saying: “Don’t get me wrong, I want to win every game and we want to win everything, but we’re amateurs.
“If we don’t win, the sun is still going to shine tomorrow and my family are still going to love me when I wake up. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but obviously we want to win.”
* Meanwhile, in Wednesday’s other semifinal, 2009 Varsity Cup and Club Champs finalists, FNB Pukke, will face College Rovers of KZN.
The Potch students – champions in 2004, 2006 and 2008 – will be hoping that their habit of claiming the title every second season continues.
Past history is never the most accurate measure of future performances, but it is nevertheless interesting to note that Pukke beat the selfsame Rovers in the 2006 and 2008 deciders – both of which were also played at the Danie Craven Stadium.
* In other action on Wednesday, Varsity Cup teams, FNB Shimlas and FNB Tuks, will meet in the semifinals of the Plate competition.
The winner of that semifinal fixture will meet one of SAPS East London or the Mossel Bay Barbarians in the Plate Final on Friday.
Fixtures for Wednesday, September 22:
Plate semifinals (B field):
SAPS East London v Mossel Bay Barbarians – 11.45am
Shimlas v Tuks – 1.30pm
Cup semifinals (Danie Craven Stadium):
Pukke v College Rovers – 3.15pm
Hamilton’s v Maties – 5pm
