From top dog to underdog

From top dog to underdog

7 Apr 2008

The challenge continues to mount for UCT with rumours Stellenbosch may field several WP players for Monday’s Varsity Cup final.

The Ikeys finished top of the log to earn a home semi-final and qualified for the final in incredible fashion when they edged Pukke 32-31 last week. However, the subsequent seven days have been tainted by controversy with event organisers ruling UCT’s floodlights are inadequate to stage a televised night game. They also ruled out the option of staging the final at Newlands, as the match needs to take place on a university campus.

Maties are the big winners as a result, earning the right to host the inaugural Varsity Cup final at the Danie Craven Stadium. The two universities are old rivals, with Stellenbosch having the wood over UCT at Coetzenberg. However, Maties have similarly struggled to pick up results at UCT in recent years.

There is little doubt home advantage will be a factor, and unfortunately for the Ikeys, television ratings and the all-important rand have won over the game itself. In any other competition in the world a team finishing top of the league earns the right to play at home. Not so on this occasion.

Another late development may see Maties with a further advantage. The latest rumour is that Western Province players will be used to bolster the Maties line-up with sources close to keo.co.za saying Stormers utility player Joe Pietersen is a likely starter at fullback. The teams have been announced, but the national club champs may have a surprise in store when the game kicks off at 18:45 tonight.

UCT will need to put aside the disappointment of the past week when they travel into hostile territory. The customary Ikey supporter bus loads will be in tow, but they’ll struggle to match the clamour of the home fans. The Danie Craven Stadium will be packed, and the majority of that crowd will be screaming for the men in maroon.

UCT have already recorded a win over Maties in the league stage of the competition, beating Stellenbosch 38-32 in George. Their backline has been the primary threat, with the prolific Mathew Turner certain to be a marked man. Maties will also be wary of the Ikey counterattack. UCT proved they can never be discounted even if they are down by three scores, as was the case against Pukke last week.

Their work at the breakdown will be a worry, and this is where the big men from Stellenbosch will fancy their chances. There’s no question a free-flowing game will play into the hands of the visitors, and so Maties may elect to keep it tight and force the Ikeys to play the ball close to the point of contact.

Both sides have played out of their skins to reach this point, but nobody should underestimate the value of home advantage. Hosting the final at UCT, the Ikeys would have been favourites, but the loss of this right has seen them slip from the position of top dog to underdog.

Stellenbosch – Therlow Pietersen, Henoe Stoffberg, Jean Stemmet, Sarel Potgieter, Llewellyn Winckler, Coenie van Wyk, Wilhelm Koch, Bennie Booysen (c), Jonathan Adendorf, Zandre Jordaan, Jaco Nepgen, Erich Laubscher, Jacob Adriaanse, Lisle Clark, Johan Roets.
Subs: Matthew Dobson, Andrew Crausaz, De Kock Steenkamp, Albert Fullard, Prieur de Jager, Lucian Cloete, Jowayne van Wyk.
UCT – Robert Hopwood, Marcello Sampson, Tim Whitehead, Pieter Engelbrecht, Mathew Turner, Matthew Rosslee, Danie van der Merwe, JJ Gagiano (c), Mzoi Simani, Enoch Panya, Martin Muller, Michael Ledwidge, Dylan Rogersm JP Koster, Herbert Mayosi.
Subs: Mark Goosen, Wesley Chetty, Dane Galley, Kyle Brown, Kyle Wickins, Peter Haw, Sean van Tonder.

By Jon Cardinelli


88 Comments

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  • 51.wernergreeff fanclub membership 1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:08 pm

    Charo, as jy die chip op jou skouer afhaal en dit op Highlander se ander skouer sit, dan is julle altwee meer gebalanseerd. Dan is dit ‘n wen/wen vir ons almal

  • 52.ET: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:08 pm

    #42 Charo
    What you say has a lot of truth about it but expect the attack hounds to now spew and froth at the mouth because of what you said.
    I commented on Sat. about this culture of cheating and/or accepting it and seeing things in perspective and they went ballistic for hrs. and hrs.Expect a storm.

  • 53.saffa_guy: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:09 pm

    Maties have been manipulating the WP League since time began. The 1st team conveniently loses to the 2nd team whenever the 2nd team is faced with relegation. Nooo hidden secret in the WP Club league.

  • 54.ET: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:14 pm

    Reading about this matter since it started last week it becomes clearer and clearer that ther are lies and cover about of weak lies followed by more lies and more cover up and back tracking. All of this begs the big question Why and to what end.

  • 55.FoxAche: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:15 pm

    I would kill to be in Stellenbosch tonight.

    Mind you, the good old SAP might decide it is a good idea to have another raid on the unarmed students just out for a jol.

    Cowards. Ek hou van die SAP nokken fiks.

  • 56.robertparker: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:20 pm

    Go Maties!! Why is the article written from a UCT perspective. Bit biased methinks.

  • 57.seamus: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:23 pm

    Rangerman (24),

    Classic, brother!

  • 58.ET: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:27 pm

    #54 about should read up(cover up)

  • 59.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:31 pm

    I see there is still a lot unhappiness amongst the bloggers about the Maties/Vics situation in the past, the choice of venue and even poor old Doc Craven is not spared.

    The Maties rugby club has carried Western Province (and lately also the Stormers) for decades and as a result can hardly ever field their strongest combination. Last Saturday for example approximately 14 players of the WP Vodacom team who beat Northern Transvaal (reserves included) were Maties. None of them are eligible to play tonight. If you include the Stormers who are Maties it means that tonights team is for all practical purposes a their third team.

    So give them some rope if they try and bend the rules every now and then.

  • 60.asha1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:32 pm

    24
    lol, ma’ o’s gat hulle nog steeds opfok!! :shock:

  • 61.asha1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:40 pm

    robzim @ 59
    my dear friend
    1. take your head out of your ***
    2. take your head out of your ***
    3. take your head out of your ***

    now go read the first part of comment 23.

    you believe (or try to make others believe) that the maties developed the players you so proudly mentioned. i beg to differ!!

  • 62.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:56 pm

    61# Asha,

    What are you talking about? Where did I say that the Maties developed the players I mentioned?

    If you want to reply to something someone posted please first read what they have said.

    In any event if a good school player joins a club dont you believe the club can at least also claim some credit if the player later develops into a Springbok?

  • 63.asha1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:58 pm

    some, but can that club then go out and say “we’re playing our 3rd team because danie x amount of players have moved on the higher honours”? isnt that the sole purpose of your club etc?

  • 64.asha1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 16:59 pm

    shouls read x amount of players…
    i’m tired! night guys!

  • 65.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:08 pm

    Cheers asha1 . I’m now off to DC stadium to check out the girls.

  • 66.CharlesM: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:19 pm

    charo you obviously did not know doc Craven. I was coached by him in the eighties. he was no cheat..(definitely no little prick!!).rugby was his life! why did guys like gert smal, tiaan strauss,carel du plessis etc. go to maties ? – to be coached by doc!
    I agree that tonight’s final should have been played at UCT, but don’t blame maties – blame FNB !!

  • 67.KingPaul: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:47 pm

    Net om so bietjie agtergrond te gee, net in die Vodacom alleen, die een wat Saterdag die Bulle gewen het, is daar 14 Matie spelers, dan praat ons nie eers van die beseerde ouens en die manne wat in die Stormers groep is nie. Nee wat, Maties is die plek om te wees, en die kak van die Keo skrywers om Maties aftekraak raak ook vervelig. Dis nie Maties se skuld dat die ligte en stadion by UCT so kak is nie. En Maties het beslis nie daarop aangedring dat die game op DC gespeel moet word nie. En DC het buitendien baie meer gees as ‘n half vol Nuweland.

  • 68.robertparker: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:50 pm

    GO MATIES! How lame is this chant:

    A U!
    A U!
    A U C T!

  • 69.Fern: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:56 pm

    what time is the game?

  • 70.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:58 pm

    Fern

    I think it starts at seven.

    May the best team win.

  • 71.Twig: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:58 pm

    Robzim @ 59,

    UCT have always fielded only full-time students, a policy that Maties have NEVER even dreamed of adopting (until it became enforced), always bolstering their side with seasoned professionals.

    You can call it bending the rules, others may simply call it cheating.
    Whatever.
    The Tigers are visitin’ in just under an hour, and they’ve brought a big ol’ bag of Sodomy just for your boys!

  • 72.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 17:59 pm

    Sorry Fern.

    It starts at 18:45.

  • 73.Fern: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:18 pm

    thank you

  • 74.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:46 pm

    Gaan interessant wees om die “Witkaart” in aksie te sien……… ek dink dis ‘n goeie ding !

    Ek hoop goeie rugby wên….. daar was duidelik 4 goeie spanne by hierdie Varsity Cup…. Ikeys, Maties, Tukkies & Pukke…. die 2 semi’s was beide woes close, kon netsowel anders gewees het !

  • 75.JL1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:49 pm

    Wat is die “Witkaart”?

  • 76.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:51 pm

    Elke span het 1 geleentheid, elke halfte om 1 beslissing van die Ref te querie…. dis die sogenaamde “Witkaart” geleenthede.

  • 77.JL1: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:53 pm

    Jislaaik, ek sal soos ‘n kind in sweets winkel wees, nie mooi weet wat om te kies nie

    ‘n Paar refs gaan “kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak”

  • 78.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:56 pm

    Sovêr ek weet is hierdie die enigste of eerste wedstryd waar hierdie Witkaart gaan werk….. ek dink mens gebruik dit seker maar as die ander span ‘n dubious drie druk wat nie TMO toe gaan nie…. of as daar net voor die drie ‘n vorentoe aangee was “in the field of play” waar die TMO nie jurisdiksie het nie.

    Eishhhh 1 ste geelkaart vir punching…. aan Ikeys..

  • 79.jon beer: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:56 pm

    can you guys who are watching on TV please update score every now and then? would be awesome. A U. A U. A UCT

  • 80.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 18:58 pm

    Maties 3 / Zip….

    Ek dink ek ondersteun maar vir Maties, siende dat ek op Tukkies was en hulle ons tradisionele vyand / rivals was.

  • 81.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:03 pm

    Hoe weet jy ‘n ou was op Maties??

    Hehehehe

    Hy vertel jou !

  • 82.liefling: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:04 pm

    3-0 to Maties. Ikeys yellow card down and Roslee missed penalty. lots of handling errors in early stages

  • 83.maarjoukleinbliksem: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:05 pm

    Hoekom is daar nie ‘n ‘live’ thread nie?

    Lui bliksemse “joernaliste”

  • 84.dogboy: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:06 pm

    what was card for?

  • 85.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:06 pm

    Maties het al weer hulle span “gelaai” met WP Vodacom Cup spelers……

  • 86.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:07 pm

    punch

  • 87.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:26 pm

    Sorry….. handbriekie arrived….

    Ikeys scored a try in the meantime, unconverted…. Maties scored a second penalty

    Maties 6 / Ikeys 5

  • 88.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2008, 19:28 pm

    Over to the actual game thread….. let’s move

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