VC: The coaches have their say
With the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International less than two weeks away now, we caught up with the eight head coaches of South Africa’s top rugby universities to find out more about their pre-season training, their ambitions and the law experiments this season…
(1) Maties – Champions in 2008 and 2009:
Head coach CHEAN ROUX on…
Maties’ pre-season preparation: “I guess in an ideal world I would’ve liked three pre-season games, but it wasn’t to be. My plan is to get the guys ‘contact-fit’ at training… there’s no point shying away from contact during training, but I won’t be going crazy either; it’s all about being smart at training and breaking things up into small sessions.” (The Maties first assembled for pre-season training in October of last year until December 4, before re-assembling on January 4, 2010.)
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “The other teams will be gunning for us – and rightly so. Without trying to get too clichéd; this tournament is getting bigger and better on an annual basis and teams are catching up – as they did in the WP Super League – and we have to keep improving in order to stay ahead of the chasing pack.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “As far as I’m concerned, I will still be choosing five forwards on the bench as I have always done, but, now, I can also include an extra back – so it’s a great concept as far as I’m concerned. It also throws up some interesting possibilities as far as tactics are concerned, so it should make for an exciting ruling in more ways than one.”
(2) Ikey Tigers – Runners-up in 2008, losing semifinalists in 2009:
Head coach JOHN DOBSON on…
UCT’s pre-season preparation: “We played a match against the Stormers on Saturday in Riebeek West after spending the week there at Alan Zondagh’s Rugby Performance Centre. We have other friendlies planned against Western Province (January 20) and Boland (January 23) – we certainly couldn’t ask for better opposition.” (UCT began pre-season training in November, before taking a break over the Festive Season. The squad re-assembled on Monday, January 4.)
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “(Robbie Fleck) Fleckie and I always looked at the Varsity Cup as a three-year project. The first year was obviously a helluva exciting competition for us as we broke new ground in terms of our approach to the game, whereas last year teams were waiting for us and we had to consolidate after losing a few of our key ‘strike men’. Still, we’ve had a good pre-season, thanks again to the Sports Science Institute, and I am confident that UCT will be there or thereabouts come this year’s tournament.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “I have some experience of this already, as this law is already in place in Italy during the initial part of my consultancy at Rugby Roma. I am not overly concerned about the possible tactical loopholes, but I do feel sorry for the poor 23rd player who gets left on the bench!”
(3) NWU-Pukke – Losing semifinalists in 2008, runners-up in 2009:
Head coach RUDY JOUBERT on…
Pukke’s pre-season preparation: “The guys have been working hard and they got stuck in after coming back from their Christmas breaks on January 4 and we had internal trials this past weekend – this after the players started training, initially, in the first week of November 2009 until December 17. We have one warm-up match planned against the Griffons on January 23 and even though I would’ve preferred more match practice, we will make do with what we have.”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “We’re missing some experienced forwards, who were key men for us last year, but the beauty of the Varsity Cup is that one needs to build a new core of players every season. It’s a tough tournament, but we’ll be working towards getting a home semifinal and we’ll take things from there, hopefully.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It’s a great concept as it will definitely rule out uncontested scrums – all of which augurs well for the Varsity Cup.”
(4) Tukkies – Losing semifinalists in 2008 and 2009:
Head coach FREDDIE GROBLER on…
Tukkies’ pre-season preparation: “Pre-season training began at the start of October and we worked up until the week before Christmas. The guys re-assembled on Monday, January 4 and we played some warm-up games against Russia and TUT last week. After this we’re heading to Bloemfontein to play against the Shimlas and then to George for a camp where we will be training with and playing against the Eagles. Camps are always great and the time away will allow us to work on a few things and bond as a team.”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “It goes without saying that we would like to go one better after losing in the semifinals in 2008 and 2009. This is a wonderful competition to win and we’re certainly hoping to go one better – at least – in 2010.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It will certainly make things interesting… but I think it’s a step in the right direction. It obviously means uncontested scrums are unlikely, but the other nice thing, for me, is that it also means that an extra player will have the opportunity to experience Varsity Cup rugby.”
(5) UJ – Fifth place in 2008 and 2009:
Head coach HUGO VAN AS on…
UJ’s pre-season preparation: “We began training at the beginning of October last year up until the middle of December. The guys came back on January 4 – so it’s been all hands on deck since then.”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “We’ve missed out on the semifinals in both years of Varsity Cup, but last year was especially disappointing as it was touch and go. Our goal is make it into the Top Four, but we know it won’t be easy.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It’s a fantastic concept! We chatted about it, in depth, at the coaches’ meeting and it will throw up some interesting options… The main thing for me, however, is that it clears up any grey areas in terms of uncontested scrums.”
(6) Shimlas – Sixth place in 2008 and 2009:
Head coach JACO SWANEPOEL on…
Shimlas’ pre-season preparation: “We started with our pre-season training in November and then gave the guys three weeks off until January 4. It’s been a good build-up, although we do have a few injuries and players that are busy with rehab. We’ve played against Tukkies and will play UJ on Tuesday, but it’s tough getting good pre-season games as we’re a bit isolated here in Bloemfontein.”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “A good, strong start is very important. In the past we’ve been very slow out of the blocks and in a single round competition, like the Varsity Cup, you cannot afford to get too far behind from the log-leaders. If we can start well, then who knows where we could end up?”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It’s a positive ruling and it can only benefit the game. We spoke about it at the Varsity Cup coaches’ meeting and there seems to be a very genuine excitement amongst all the coaches.”
(7) NMMU – eighth place in 2008, seventh place in 2009:
Head coach KOLIE BRANDT on…
NMMU’s pre-season preparation: “We’ve been working hard since October – with the guys having two sessions a day right up until December 21. I was pleased with the shape of the guys when they returned to training on January 4 and we’ve already played an internal trial game. Our one and only warm-up game is against the Mighty Elephants Vodacom Cup team on the day of the Varsity Cup launch!”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “We have a very inexperienced playing squad, with just three survivors from last year’s Varsity Cup available to us this year. It’s always a battle for us to attract new players – compared to the teams falling under the Bulls, Stormers and Lions – but we will certainly give it our best shot and look to make an improvement on our first (and only) win last season.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It’s a fantastic innovation! If you think about it, seven-man benches were brought into play in order for teams to put full front rows on the bench, but it never really happened. The last thing you want in a tough competition like the Varsity Cup is uncontested scrums and with this new law in place the chances are small of that happening.”
(8) TUT – seventh place in 2008, eighth place in 2009:
Forwards coach JIMMY WATT on…
TUT’s pre-season preparation: “We’ve been training since early October, but gave the guys a long break over the Festive Season – from December 1 until January 4. We had a training camp last weekend and cut our squad down to 32 and played some practice matches against Tukkies last week, too. We have another warm-up scheduled against Tukkies and also a match against the Benoni Rugby Club.”
The 2010 Varsity Cup: “We’ve bolstered our squad in key positions and even though we have a young squad I am very excited at the potential of this playing group. As I have said before on numerous occasions, I never want this team to be involved in a promotion/relegation game again and I am convinced that we have prepared much better for 2010 than we did for 2009.”
The 23-man matchday playing squads: “It just gives one – as a coach – so many extra options. It’s very exciting and I look forward to seeing the various scenarios it throws up in 2010.”
Click here for the 2010 Varsity Cup fixtures!
