Grobler - 'Logic says Maties'

FNB Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler has little doubt that Maties will retain their FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International title.

Grobler’s prediction is not based on his team’s heavy loss against the defending champions in this past Monday’s semifinal (they went down 14-38), but rather on solid rugby logic.

“Anything is possible in a final, but Maties have proved on too many occasions that they are the team for the big moment – when it’s everything or nothing,” Grobler told varsitycup.co.za.

“Their performance against us in the semifinals was the most recent example of how they can rise to the occasion like a true champion team.”

Grobler added that playing at home in a packed Danie Craven Stadium would be another huge advantage for Maties, saying: “They know how to win, but even more so on their home turf.”

Looking back at his team’s performance in the semifinals, Grobler felt the loss to Stellenbosch was a big disappointment because Tuks contributed to their own downfall on the night.

“I’m the first to admit that our performance was not up to scratch… but I’m also the first to congratulate Maties on their convincing win.

“They played clever, winning rugby and are blessed with such depth and talent that the difference between number one and four in almost every position is hardly notable,” said Grobler.

One should never be content with a fourth-place finish on the log (Tuks finished fourth on the 2009 Varsity Cup standings), but Grobler still maintains that Tuks accomplished what they set out to do when the season started: to reach the semifinals.

“We definitely have a lot of soul-searching to do, but there is no use in keeping on crying over something that wasn’t meant to be. Much more important – for us – now is to shift our focus to the Carlton Cup competition in order to defend our title successfully,” concluded the Tuks coach.

By Morris Gilbert