UCT scoop Varsity Cup awards
The University of cape Town (UCT) were the undoubted winners in the Varsity Cup awards, despite their heart-breaking last minute loss to Stellenbosch (Maties) in Stellenbosch last Monday.
The Maties snatched victory with a well-worked try by winger Morné Jooste, son of Bok selector Peter, after a moment of madness by UCT.
In similar circumstances to the Sharks defeat to the Bulls in the Final of last years Super 14, the hooter had sounded and UCT had the ball at a five-metre scrum and only needed to dot the ball down in the in-goal area or hoof the ball into touch – but for some reason unbeknown to them, they tried to run the ball out. Instead they were turned over from which the Maties capitalised more.
It may seem like scant consolation to the brave Ikeys, who topped the league table with a game to spare, who beat every other University en route to the Final and won the most games in the tournament, but they scooped most of the trophies on offer, other than the FNB Varsity Cup itself … the one that really counted.
They won the award for playing the Best Rugby (‘Rugby that Rocks’), they also landed the Forward of the Tournament in Herbert Mayosi and Back of the Tournament, James Martin. Martin had a quiet final as he battled with a thigh injury.
Stellenbosch’s Sarel Potgieter won Player of the Tournament. Potgieter had an outstanding tournament with his accurate boot and great breaks. He ended up in the bin for ten minutes in the Final for two dangerous tackles.
The Final itself unfortunately was mired in some controversy.
Firstly UCT had won the right to host the Final for topping the standings, but due to the competition’s imperative that the Final be live on television and with UCT’s lights being insufficient for broadcast quality they could not.
Despite a proposal to play it at Newlands and interest from the Western Province Rugby Union (WPRU), the organisers felt that a big stadium may lose the atmosphere. But as it turned out with many turned away as the House Full signs went up, Newlands may have been fuller than thought. But in the end it was a fantastic occasion at the Danie Craven Stadium, reminiscent, if not exceeding, the glory days of University rugby.
The other controversy was Stellenbosch’s late inclusion of some Stormers squad members.
They had not played one game in the entire tournament and were brought it, in secrecy, at the last minute, to bolster the Maties line up.
It also meant some regulars being relegated to the bench.
UCT were known to be unhappy before the game, feeling that it was against the spirit of the tournament and also that they were given a wrong team sheet.
Team Manager Stephen Butt said: “We knew days before that they were going to play these players, so it was hell of a disappointing that they gave us a wrong team sheet the night before the game. I suppose it is a credit to us that they went to such lengths to try to beat us.
“And in the end Joe Pietersen and Juan de Jongh were superb and made a difference. Having said that we still should have buried the game in the last seconds. But nevertheless it was a fantastic occasion and tournament.”
But this tournament has come to stay. It has been a brilliant addition to South African rugby.
The rugby has been fantastic and has offered a great alternative to the humdrum of the Super 14 and has capitalised well on the Monday night hole in our sporting week’s calendar.
The Final was a grand occasion following on two absolutely pulsating semifinals.
A tournament of this quality and entertainment must put pressure on the ailing Vodacom Cup – especially given the young talent that graced our screens over the past few months. Francois Pienaar, FNB and Steinhoff International definitely deserve credit for lighting up the rugby scene with their ‘Rugby that Rocks’ mantra.
