Varsity Cup preview - Round Six
The top two teams in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International are both at home this week – in this Round Six – but everyone’s attention will be elsewhere as the scrap for third and fourth place continues in the run-in to the semifinals.
FNB Maties and FNB UCT will play host to NMMU and Shimlas, respectively, but the TUT-Pukke and UJ-Tuks fixtures will be the matches to watch today.
Barring any major surprises, the Maties and Ikeys are basically assured of semifinal places, and even though they will be hoping to book home play-off fixtures, the likes of Tuks, Pukke, Shimlas and UJ will all be aware that more dropped points in Round Six could spell the end of their semifinal ambitions.
FNB Pukke will travel to Pretoria to take on FNB TUT (kick-off 6.45pm) and they will fancy a full-house of five points against the only winless side in the 2009 Varsity Cup.
Pukke are currently in fourth place on the log with 14 points from five matches. If they win and Tukkies slip up against UJ tonight – in one of two televised matches (kick-off 6.45pm) – the Men from Potchefstroom will move up to third place on the log.
Tukkies have suffered something of a fall from grace in recent weeks.
Having at one stage this season topped the log, they have since slumped to defeats against UCT (22-24) and Shimlas (22-39). A third successive loss, to UJ, would be a big blow to their semifinal chances.
“On paper we have one of the best teams in the series and the potential to win it,” Tukkies coach Freddie Grobler told varsitycup.co.za.
“We are, however, not even close to playing to our true potential,” he added.
“(But) we need to make less basic mistakes and concentrate better when the pressure mounts. If not, we will pay the same high price as in our last two games.”
UJ coach Hugo van As – who has had a frustrating 2009 season back in charge – said ahead of this clash: “We will be under a lot of pressure to win against Tuks on our home ground – but I believe we can beat them, we just have to stay focused.”
Focus certainly won’t be a problem for the likes of Stellenbosch and UCT.
The Maties will no doubt be backing themselves to make it six wins from six against NMMU, who despite winning their first-ever Varsity Cup game a few weeks ago, could find things a bit too hot to handle at the Danie Craven Stadium (kick-off 4.45pm).
“We love playing at home and our record reflects that,” said Maties head coach Chean Roux.
“Playing at home in the play-offs would be a great boost for us, but, at the same time, we don’t want to lose any momentum before the semifinals, which makes these last two games very important for us.”
UCT, meanwhile, will face a ‘brand-new’ Shimlas side at Groote Schuur, in what should be the most exciting of all the matches on offer today.
Shimlas have produced some disappointing results since their opening-day win over NMMU – ironically at this same Cape Town venue – but last Monday’s win over Tukkies, a 39-22 thrashing, has given the Free Staters a huge amount of confidence going into a match that they cannot afford to lose.
The Ikeys, however, were handed a huge boost at the weekend when utility back Tiger Bax was released from the Stormers squad, after being on standby for Schalk Burger, who passed a late fitness test before taking his place on the bench against the Bulls.
Bax has been a key attacking weapon for UCT this season and his return could be just the tonic for the home side against their resurgent visitors.
“It’s great being back at home in front of our fantastic supporters and we’d love nothing more than a full-house of five points, which would give us some breathing space before the final round of league action next week,” UCT coach Dobson told varsitycup.co.za.
“(But) Shimlas will be on a high after their big win over Tukkies last week,” he cautioned.
“We certainly won’t take anything for granted tonight, but we know how important a win will be for us in this, the business-end, of the Varsity Cup.”
Week Six schedule:
Monday, March 9:
FNB Maties v FNB NMMU, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch – 4.45pm (TV)
FNB TUT v FNB Pukke, TUT Stadium, Pretoria – 6.45pm
FNB UCT v FNB Shimlas, Groote Schuur Rugby Fields, Cape Town – 6.45pm
FNB UJ v FNB Tuks, UJ Stadium, Johannesburg – 6.45pm (TV)
