Dobson banking on 'team factor'
Having tasted victory once before on the hallowed turf that is the Danie Craven Stadium, FNB UCT coach John Dobson knows what it takes to leave Coetzenburg on a high – especially when not many people are giving you a chance to win.
Speaking ahead of Monday’s top of the table clash against the defending champion Maties in Stellenbosch (kick-off 8.30pm), Dobson is well aware that the Maties are everyone’s favourites to win yet another FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International match.
It was like that in 2004 (when Dobson’s UCT side won an Intervarsity match in Stellenbosch) and the same happened in 2008 when UCT beat the Maties in a Varsity Cup league match in George.
Since then, however, it has been all Maties, with the Men in Maroon beating UCT in the dramatic 2008 Varsity Cup Final at this selfsame venue (Stellenbosch won through a last-second Morné Jooste try), and also winning last year’s league match, at Groote Schuur, by 12-10.
“We will live with the pain of messing up, by not putting the ball out after the siren had gone in the 2008 final, but the Maties are true champions – as they have shown all season long,” Dobson told varsitycup.co.za.
Looking ahead to Monday at 8.30pm, Dobson added: “It seems nobody is giving us a chance – but, believe me, we do. We may not be the most talented team to have walked the earth… but we are just that – a team.
“I think we have competed pretty well – as the statistics have shown this week – and I think every time we [UCT and Stellenbosch] play each other, any given team can win, there really is nothing in it, if you look at our Varsity Cup history.”
Given the rich history between the Ikeys and the Maties – and the many, many Intervarsities that have been played in the past – Monday is a huge occasion for all involved and the Ikeys mentor is relishing having another crack at the Men in Maroon.
“It’s just a fantastic rivalry and we are privileged to have a derby, and such a contest, against a club as great as Maties,” said Dobson.
“They are an outstanding rugby team, blessed with massive talent. We are in awe of all they have at Maties, so just to compete against them is a privilege.”
Dobson has made a few changes to his UCT side for Monday’s encounter, with fit-again openside flanker Michael Morris back in the No.7 shirt and Zandy Macdonald dropping out of the squad after making his debut against the University of Johannesburg last week.
In other team changes, No.6 flank André Goosen also misses out – with Sam Peter earning a start – and powerhouse second row Mike Ledwidge makes his first start in the Varsity Cup since 2008.
“It’s tough on André [Goosen] and Zandy, both of whom did well against UJ, but Mikey Morris is our top opensider – a fearless, yet skilled dog of an openside,” said Dobson.
“Sam, of whose talent we are well aware, is a player with a massive future and seized his chance against UJ with both hands – especially physically, making ten tackles in 28 minutes. But it’s his ball-in-hand attributes that particularly excite us and we’re looking forward to seeing him go (out there).”
Top of the log: How the Maties and UCT match up in the Varsity Cup.
