Grobler: 'Maties game a must-win'
The vultures might already be gathering, but FNB Tuks will still not be side-tracked in their determination to beat Maties – in Stellenbosch – next Monday as they look to secure a place in the 2009 Varsity Cup semifinals.
Tuks are currently on a three-game losing streak, having at one stage this season topped the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International log, and they know that a fourth successive loss will spell the end of their 2009 campaign.
“It is common knowledge that we’re not even being given the slightest of chances to beat Maties, but that makes the challenge and eventual reward so much bigger,” said Tukkies head coach Freddie Grobler.
“This might well be the right game and right opponents to play to our true potential for a change.”
Even so, it will be a tough ask to become the first team to beat Maties this season – especially in front of their partisan crowd at the Danie Craven Stadium.
“Varsity Cup rugby is unpredictable and Tuks usually keep their best for Maties,” warned Grobler, no doubt alluding to the two thrilling fixtures between Maties and Tuks last year – both matches being high-scoring affairs and ending in draws after regulation time.
Grobler and co. are taking it as a given that UJ will win their final league match against NMMU in Port Elizabeth, which will see them end on 17 points – at least – on the log.
It is, however, more probable that UJ will score four or more tries to take home a full tally of five log points and therefore push them up to 18.
As the log stands now, Tuks are fourth with 16 and UJ fifth with 13.
“In circumstances like these people tend to play around with all the different permutations, but we as coaches, and the players, know the only way to reach the semifinals is to go down there and beat Maties,” said Grobler.
As for his teams’s performance against UJ, Grobler said it was touch and go, adding: “We lost because we missed too many kicks at goal, but our captain (Johan de Bruin) still maintains that Tuks scored a try in the last two minutes – that could have been our saving grace.
“As it turns out, the TMO was of other persuasion and did not award the try. This was only one of a series of critical decisions that went against us,” concluded Grobler.
By Morris Gilbert
