Job not done yet, says Maties' Roux
Stellenbosch might be on top of the log after four pulsating rounds of action in the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, but the job is by no means done according to FNB Maties head coach Chean Roux.
The Maties maintained their unbeaten run in the 2009 competition with a bonus-point clinching 31-10 victory over FNB Pukke in Stellenbosch on Monday night, with Roux telling varsitycup.co.za: “Any win is a good win.”
He added: “(But) there’s still a long way to go in this tournament… We’re just four rounds in and although we’re unbeaten and top of the log at the moment, it means nothing until you actually win that trophy.”
Maties led 17-3 at half-time, but they had to wait until the second minute of injury-time to secure that valuable four-try bonus point against a resilient Pukke side under the coaching of former Springbok assistant coach Rudy Joubert.
“I was actually a bit worried,” admitted Roux. “I said last week that we were targeting bonus point wins at home, but we very nearly didn’t make it!
“But credit to the guys, they showed great self-belief not to give up and eventually score that fourth try.”
Flyhalf Coenie Van Wyk scored a brace of tries for the Maties, with winger Morné Jooste also crossing once, but the big hero was lock Jaco Nepgen who scored that all-too-valuable fourth try for the home side.
“We started well and ran into that early lead, but we lost a bit of shape for some reason and in the end it wasn’t the greatest spectacle in terms of it (the match) being a running and open game,” said Roux, who also praised his team’s watertight defence on the night.
“But it was a hard battle (out there) and I’m pleased with the win and I thought the guys chasing that bonus point try livened things up a bit at the end.”
Maties will travel to the TUT Stadium next Monday for a meeting with FNB TUT – pitting the only unbeaten side in the competition against the only winless team.
“I really don’t want to sound clichéd, but you can’t afford to underestimate any teams in the Varsity Cup – it’s a lot like the Super 14 in that way,” said the Stellenbosch mentor, whose team has conceded just four tries in four games.
“We’ve got plenty of preparation ahead of this week, TUT certainly won’t roll over and play dead, especially after their loss to NMMU. If we don’t take this fixture seriously enough we could head back home next Tuesday with our tails between our legs.”
Week Five fixtures – Monday, March 2:
Shimlas v Tuks, Shimla Park – 4.45pm (TV)
TUT v Maties, TUT Stadium – 6.45pm
UJ v Pukke, UJ Stadium – 6.45pm
NMMU v UCT, Xerox NMMU Stadium South Campus – 6.45pm (TV)
