'Unknown' factor could be key
The factor of the unknown, as it the case with most the opening matches of the Varsity Cup, can be good or bad, according to FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As.
“It is not conducive to your game planning and strategy to know little or nothing about your opponents,” explained Van As to varsitycup.co.za.
“The fact that we beat TUT in the corresponding match of the 2009 competition will have no bearing on what happens on Monday. They are like a closed book to us.
“But that shouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing as the factor of the unknown also levels the playing field. There are subsequently no favourites, just two teams who will try their upmost to take the initiative first. In this regard it will be important for us to take control of the game within the first 20 minutes.”
TUT Vikings forwards coach Jimmy Watt agreed: “The first match of the season is always the most difficult one to call.
“Playing an opponent you know little about, is like walking into a dark room. It takes you while to get accustomed to the surroundings.
“On Monday it will be feel-feel at first. What happens afterwards will depend on things like front foot possession, initiative, finishing and the team that wants it most.”
Jimmy agrees that their 2009 defeat against UJ is in the past, with him adding: “We cannot afford to dwell in the past.
“Our focus is only on the present because that is still within our control.”
By Morris Gilbert
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