Varsity Cup preview - Round Seven
The 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International heads into its final round of league action on Monday, March 16; with six teams capable of qualifying for next week’s semifinals. Semifinal places aside, however, all eight teams in the Varsity Cup have something to play for; home-ground advantage, survival and – well – plain old pride!
At this stage, last year’s finalists, FNB Maties and FNB UCT, are both assured of their semifinal places – but the Ikeys could still miss out on hosting a home play-off match, whilst Stellenbosch could even miss out on finishing top of the log.
Maties, the defending champions, have 27 points to show for their efforts from the first six rounds of action. UCT, in second place, have 24 points and are the only side capable of catching Stellenbosch on the standings – should the Maties lose to FNB Tuks.
The Ikeys have to ensure they get at least a bonus point – even if they lose their final league fixture to FNB Pukke on Monday afternoon – in order to be assured of hosting the selfsame Men from Potchefstroom in the semi’s.
Should they beat Pukke – even without scoring four tries – and the Maties lose and fail to collect a bonus point against Tuks, then UCT could end up topping the log.
However, despite all the various permutations doing their rounds ahead of Monday’s last-round action, a very likely scenario at this stage could see UCT and Pukke meet in the semifinals once again – in a repeat of one of last year’s thrilling SFs.
All that needs to get sorted out at this late juncture is where this semifinal match will be played; in Cape Town or Potchefstroom, with Pukke no doubt eyeing a serious spot of revenge after their gut-wrenching 31-32 loss to the Ikey Tigers at Groote Schuur in the corresponding fixture last year.
“I think that may apply more to next week when we are likely to play them again,” UCT coach John Dobson told varsitycup.co.za when asked about the Varsity Cup history between the Ikeys and Pukke.
“But, also, the huff and puff of revenge lasts a little while on the field only,” he added.
“At the same time, however, I am well aware that this Pukke side is an absolutely quality one and we are in for a long evening on Monday… but I do have a feeling that the guys like it when people write us off!”
Of all Monday’s fixtures, Tuks probably have the most to prove – although Pukke might argue otherwise!
Having at one stage this season topped the log, the Men from Pretoria are in danger of not qualifying for the semifinals. But a win over the Maties – the only unbeaten team in the Varsity Cup – will propel them into the knockout stages ahead of FNB UJ and Shimlas.
“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,” Tukkies head coach Freddie Grobler told varsitycup.co.za.
“(But) this might well be the right game and right opponents to play to our true potential for a change.”
Whilst there is plenty to play for in Stellenbosch and Potch, the ‘other’ two games on Monday also warrant some attention of their own.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) will travel to Port Elizabeth hoping to pick up a victory to keep their semifinal chances, whilst the resurgent FNB Shimlas will make the journey to Pretoria hoping to keep FNB TUT winless – but hoping even more that both UJ and Tuks lose (the latter heavily) to allow them to creep into the Last Four for the first time ever.
Of course, both NMMU and TUT will be desperate for victories themselves in the bid to avoid that dreaded promotion/relegation match later this year. It’s simple really; TUT need to beat Shimlas and hope that NMMU lose to UJ.
If that happens, TUT will end seventh on the log and avoid a relegation game. However, if TUT lose – even if NMMU lose – then the Men from Tshwane will have to play in the promotion/relegation fixture.
So you see, there is something in it for everyone on Monday, March 16…
In fact, the pressure and excitement of the 2009 tournament – with so much at stake in the final round of league action – was probably best summed up by Varsity Cup Chairman Francois Pienaar.
“I’d much rather climb Mount Kilimanjaro or pedal a bike up Chapman’s Peak than coach a team in the Varsity Cup; there’s too much pressure,” Pienaar admitted to varsitycup.co.za last week.
“But it shows the passion of those eight universities and it shows the pride that is at stake,” he added. “It’s a pressure-cooker environment, but we, as the organisers, wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Week Seven schedule:
Monday, March 16:
FNB Pukke v FNB UCT, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom – 4.45pm (TV)
FNB NMMU v FNB UJ, Xerox NMMU Stadium, South Campus, PE – 6.45pm
FNB TUT v FNB Shimlas, TUT Stadium, Pretoria – 6.45pm
FNB Maties v FNB Tuks, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch – 6.45pm (TV)
