Varsity Cup: What the coaches think
As the eight coaches of the eight universities in the Varsity Cup look back at the league stages of the 2009 tournament, we caught up with them to find out if this Rugby really does Rock!
The 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International produced some outstanding attacking rugby; with 152 tries scored in seven rounds of league action.
The top try-scorer at the end of the league season was UCT fullback Therlow Pietersen with six tries, whilst Stellenbosch scrumhalf Donald Stevens ended as the most prolific points-scorer with a total of 94 points – made up of two tries, 15 conversions and 18 penalties.
The defending champion Maties topped the log with 28 points, followed by UCT (25), Pukke (23), Tuks (20), UJ (18), Shimlas (16), NMMU (4) and, finally, TUT (2).
Amazingly, the two semifinals are a repeat of last year’s semi’s, whilst both Maties-Tuks and UCT-Puks (the four semifinalists) faced each other in the final-round league matches on Monday evening.
No team ended unbeaten, which proves just what can be achieved on any given day in the Varsity Cup, whilst it was a ground-breaking campaign for NMMU, who won their first ever match in the Varsity Cup; beating TUT 28-18 and thereby escaping eighth position on the log.
TUT, who were unable to register a win this season, finished eighth on the log and they will have to win their promotion/relegation matches against Fort Hare later this year in order to remain in the Varsity Cup come 2010.
Here is what the eight coaches had to say about the 2009 Varsity Cup:
“I can’t believe how the tournament has just flown by – it seems like just the other day that we started our 2009 campaign against UCT. I think the 2009 tournament has been awesome and I’m not surprise that the Varsity Cup continues to go from strength to strength.”
– CHEAN ROUX
FNB Maties head coach
“This tournament has changed South African rugby for the better. It has made a massive contribution to the player base in SA, as well as providing great entertainment. It will only get bigger and better.”
– JOHN DOBSON
FNB UCT head coach
“Being my first year of Varsity Cup rugby, I have been very impressed with the standard of play. The teams have really provided some quality showings for the public and the teams have been so closely matched that it truly has been difficult to predict what was going to happen in the tournament.”
– RUDY JOUBERT
FNB Pukke head coach
“The Varsity Cup has become one of the most exciting and competitive competitions on the South African rugby calendar. The tournament has necessitated a professional outlook from the teams and the high stakes that are involved has also developed an ethos where players and coaching staff need to take accountability for themselves because your destiny is purely in your own hands.”
– FREDDIE GROBLER
FNB Tukkies head coach
“It’s only been my first year but I feel it’s been an outstanding tournament. The strength-versus-strength format means that you have to be on your game weekly, otherwise you will be exposed. I like the fact that the competition is early in the year because it teaches the players that you cannot be rusty, you have to hit the ground running early.”
– HUGO VAN AS
FNB UJ head coach
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for young players to go through this competition to eventually end up as a professional rugby player. The Varsity Cup provides that chance for semi-professional players; you can call it a stepping stone. What also makes it great for the players is the high quality of referees and fellow opposition alike.”
– JACO SWANEPOEL
FNB Shimlas head coach
“The standard has been definitely raised this year. It has been amazing how all the teams have improved their physical conditioning and skills. I think the Varsity Cup is a fantastic tournament and truly one of the last real breeding ground for stars of the future. The tournament’s model, I believe, is superior to that of the Vodacom Cup.”
– KOLIE BRANDT
FNB NMMU head coach
“It was a very entertaining tournament that brought with it some high-class rugby. The quality of play was much higher in 2009 than 2008 and the teams certainly prepared much better. Speaking from experience, I can also tell you that this tournament is very hard on teams with less depth than the rest.”
– JIMMY WATT
FNB TUT head coach
