Two newbies enter Varsity Cup fold
This year, 2017, marks the competition's 10th anniversary and to celebrate this achievement, the organisers have expanded the Cup competition to nine teams – Wits earning their spot through finishing on top of the Shield division's log in 2016.
They are joined by the usual suspects – University of the Free State (Shimlas), North West University (Pukke), Stellenbosch University (Maties), University of Cape Town (Ikeys), University of Pretoria (Tuks), Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Madibaz), University of Johannesburg and Central University of Technology (Ixias) – in the competition.
UCT-Ikeys, who retained their spot in the Cup division after beating UWC 40-5 in the promotion/relegation match, and CUT-Ixias are the only teams heading into the tournament with new coaches at the helm.
The experienced Skillie Bester – who won the Varsity Shield competition in 2014 and maintained Ixias' Cup status for the next two years – makes way for former Springbok hooker Tiaan Liebenberg.
Meanwhile, the Ikeys have also had a changing of the guard with former Springbok hooker Hanyani Shimange being replaced by Christiaan Esterhuizen.
We take a closer look at all the 2017 coaches!
Jonathan Mokuena – Pukke
Varsity Cup experience: 2016 (Champions)
Other experience: Leopards (2016)
The former Springbok Sevens captain took his inaugural tournament and coaching stint by the scruff of the neck by guiding the Potchefstroom students to their first-ever title.
Pukke remained the top four throughout the competition, eventually finishing the round-robin phase in third place – claiming five victories and suffering two defeats. They then travelled to Johannesburg for their semifinal where they beat UJ 35-7.
This sealed their spot in the Final against Maties in Stellenbosch. They sealed a famous 7-6 victory after scoring the match winning converted try after regulation time.
Mokuena then went on to guide the Leopards to and eighth-place finish in the Currie Cup qualifying tournament before finishing the First Division unbeaten.
Hawies Fourie – Maties
Varsity Cup experience: 2016 (Runners up)
Other experience: Ceres (2001-2002), Boland (2002-2007), Free State Cheetahs (2007-2014), Griquas (2014-2015)
Fourie brought a renewed energy into the Maties camp with his expansive game plan which took them to the top of the table with six victories and a solitary defeat.
Maties then went on to make light work of Tuks in the semifinal, emerging 49-11 victors but fell short in the Final – going down 6-7 to Pukke.
With his sole focus on reviving the three-time champions, Fourie laid a solid foundation in 2016 and will certainly have his sights set on going one step further this year.
Pote Human – Tuks
Varsity Cup experience: 2013 (Champions), 2014 (sixth), 2015 (semifinal), 2016 (semifinal)
Other experience: Blue Bulls (2005-06), Bulls forwards coach (2005-08), Griquas (2012-13)
Human is arguably the most experienced coach in the competition, having been at the helm since 2013 and has guided Tuks to two consecutive semifinals in 2015 and 2016.
The experienced coach seems to be on the right track as he attempts to bring a third title to the Pretoria students, after winning it in 2012 and 2013.
Tuks finished the 2016 competition in fourth place with four victories and three defeats. They headed to Stellenbosch for their semifinal but were well off the pace and slumped to a 11-49 defeat.
Werner Janse van Rensburg – UJ
Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (seventh), 2015 (sixth), 2016 (semifinal)
Other experience: UJ Under-19, Golden Lions Academy Week, Golden Lions Schools U19, Golden Lions Craven Week
UJ have been showing steady improvement under Janse van Rensburg and now, in his fourth year at the helm, will be looking to continue that trend.
Last year (2016) proved to be their best season yet as Janse van Rensburg managed to get his charges to finish in second-place at the conclusion of the round-robin phase.
Unfortunately, they came up against a rampant Pukke side in the semifinal and went down 7-35 in Johannesburg.
Should this upward trend continue, UJ could find themselves in their first-ever Final.
Hendro Scholtz – Shimlas
Varsity Cup experience: 2016 (fifth)
Other experience: 2015 Shimlas assistant coach
Scholtz had a tough task in 2016, taking over the 2015 champions. The Shimlas were once again one of the favourites to lift the title but they fell short at crucial stages.
The former Springbok flank is no stranger to the Shimlas setup, serving as Franco Smith's assistant coach in the successful 2015 campaign.
Now that Scholtz has had a front row seat into what is expected of a head coach, there is little doubt that he will be eyeing a top four spot.
Boasting four victories and three defeats in the 2016 campaign, Shimlas missed out on a semifinal spot by three points – ending the campaign in a disappointing fifth place.
Tiaan Liebenberg – Ixias
Varsity Cup experience: None
Other experience: None
Liebenberg is the first of the new coaches to enter the Varsity Cup fold and takes over an Ixias side who had their best-ever season in 2016.
Their inaugural Cup season (2015) saw them fail to register a victory, however, they turned their fortunes around with two massive victories – 35-26 against the Madibaz and 10-9 against Ikeys. Ixias maintained their 2017 Cup status by finishing sixth on the log.
Liebenberg began his professional playing career at the Sharks in 2002 before joining Griquas the following year. He made 64 appearances for the Kimberley-based side between 2003 and 2006 and also played Super Rugby for the Cheetahs in 2006.
He then played the remainder of his career in Cape Town, for Western Province and the Stormers. He also had a short spell at French Top 14 side Toulon in 2009.
Liebenberg made his Springbok debut against the Barbarians in 2007 but had to wait a further five years to receive his first Test cap, coming on as a replacement hooker against the Wallabies in Perth in 2012. He racked up a total of five Test caps in his playing days.
David Maidza – Madibaz
Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (semifinal), 2015 (seventh), 2016 (seventh)
Other experience: Border Bulldogs (2001, 2008-2009), Free State Cheetahs (2003-2007), EP Kings (2010-2013)
It has certainly not been a festive few years in Port Elizabeth as the Madibaz have languished in the bottom quarter of the standings for the past two competitions.
Despite the poor performances, they managed to avoid the 2016 promotion/relegation fixture by picking up a solitary 46-33 victory over Ikeys in the fifth round.
And it doesn't get any easier for Maidza and his charges as they will not have any home fixtures due to their home ground undergoing a much-needed revamp.
Christiaan Esterhuizen – UCT-Ikeys
Varsity Cup experience: None
Other experience: UCT Young Guns (2015)
Esterhuizen is no stranger to the Ikeys fraternity as he has played for the institution since 2003, after moving to the Cape from Bloemfontein.
The 36-year-old initially coached at Rondebosch Boys High before his UCT coaching career began in 2011 when he took over the Under-20 C team.
He then progressed to the Young Guns team in 2015 and was handed the first XV reigns following their highly disappointing 2016 Varsity Cup season, where they failed to register a victory under head coach Hanyani Shimange.
Hugo van As – Wits
Varsity Cup experience: UJ (2009-2013)
Other experience: Wits Varsity Shield (2015-2016)
Wits return to the Cup division for only their third season, after playing in the Shield division since losing their Cup status in 2014.
However, a consistent performance in the 2016 Shield saw them end the round-robin fixtures at the top of the standings and secure automatic promotion to the Cup division.
Van As has a wealth of experience, having coached at UJ for five years before making the trip across town to join Wits in 2015.
It would seem that although they may be returning to the Cup fold, Wits could well be a major dark horse as not only have they retained the bulk of their 2016 squad, but have added a few 2016 SA Schools players – the likes of exciting centre Wandisile Simelane and explosive fullback Gianni Lombard.
By Tauriq Ebrahim
@Tauriq365
@rugby365com
