'Consistency the key' stresses Stu
UCT vice-captain Stu Commins was understandably elated with his side’s 18-11 Varsity Cup win over Pukke on Monday, but he believes it is all a step in the right direction in terms of maintaining the necessary consistency required to win this tough tournament.
Having qualified for two Varsity Cup semifinals – one of which they won in 2008, and the other which they lost (in 2009) – Commins and co. are determined to go all the way this season, which is why Monday’s win was such a big one for the Ikey Tigers.
“We’ve always had some tough games against Pukke and been on the wrong side of the scoreboard (against them) a few too many times,” Commins told varsitycup.co.za, “so from that point of view; it was great to pick up the win.
“Pukke are one of the form sides this year – as they have always been in the Varsity Cup,” he added. “So it was a big win for us in terms of us gaining some consistency in our game and, thereby, results.”
Having trailed last year’s losing finalists by just one point at the break (5-6) on Monday, the Ikeys came out firing in the second half, scoring a try through livewire hooker Dayne Jans, before Commins, himself, came close to crossing the whitewash.
“I thought I had made it,” he lamented, “but their No.7 just knocked the ball out of my hand. Maybe next time… although it doesn’t bother me (missing out) – as long as we win!”
The key to UCT’s victory on Monday was the improved performance from their forwards – who got the upperhand over their much-vaunted opponents – whilst the home side also ‘played’ the windy conditions at the Green Mile a lot better than the Pukke did.
“As a scrumhalf you can’t go wrong when your forwards play like they did on Monday,” said FNB UCT’s blond No.9.
“We knew that if we could keep them to less than 10 points ahead by half-time we would be in with a chance,” he added. “As it turns out, we went into half-time just a point down, and we managed to keep the pressure on them in the second half with the winds at our backs.
“It certainly wasn’t perfect; we conceded a few turnovers and our handling wasn’t 100% on the day, but as I said earlier we are constantly striving for that consistency in our game…
“After all, consistency is exactly what is required to win the Varsity Cup!”
