Ikeys edge Pukke
8 Feb 2010
UCT claimed their first win of the season as they beat Pukke 18-11 at Groote Schuur in the Varsity Cup on Monday.
In the last two campaigns, Ikeys and Pukke have faced each other four times – including two semi-final clashes. The point difference in all four results hasn’t been greater than seven, indicating the tight matches between the two universities.
This second-round fixture was no different as both teams contested fiercely at the set-pieces and breakdowns, and displayed resilient defence.
Pukke, however, had the advantage of Cape Town’s infamous south-easter at their backs and fullback Theuns Kotze made full use of the strong wind as he slotted two penalties for a 6-0 lead.
But last year’s finalists were guilty of not sticking the basics as they decided to run the ball from their own half regularly instead of kicking for territory.
This played into UCT’s favour as they struggled to kick against the wind. They were then allowed to run the ball up the field with relevant success, but the home side let themselves down metres from the try line on several occasions because of poor communication and handling.
However, shortly before the half-time mark, Ikeys managed to cross the whitewash as outside centre Marcel Brache dived on flyhalf Matt Rosslee’s chip to leave the score 6-5 at the end of the first stanza.
In the second half, Ikeys stole the momentum from the restart and put the visitors under early pressure.
This saw Pukke flyhalf Niell Jacobs drop a straight-forward pass in their danger zone, which allowed hooker Dayne Jans to pounce and score UCT’s second try. Rosslee then added the extras.
Brache extended Ikeys lead to 15-6 as he converted a 50m penalty.
With the winds at their backs and a nine-point lead, Ikeys brought on replacement pivot Doug Mallet and moved Rosslee to inside centre, a move to dominate Pukke by kicking for territory.
This worked well as Pukke were pinned down in their 22. Ikeys’ pressure forced the North West University into errors and strangled possession in their own half.
Mallet kicked another long range penalty for the home side, but Ikeys’ defence tired and this allowed Pukke to surge to the other end of the field. After several driving maul attempts, lock Dirco Rautenbach finally brought Pukke within reach with their first try.
This created an intense finish to the match but Ikeys were awarded a final-minute penalty in a kickable position. Mallet pulled his goal attempt wide but UCT held on for the hard-fought win.
In other results, Shimlas also recorded their first win as they convincingly beat NMMU 54-5 in Bloemfontein.
Shimlas No 8 Boom Prinsloo starred for home side as he grabbed four tries against the Madibas.
UJ salvaged a 34-all draw against Tuks in Pretoria as flyhalf André Smith converted a last-minute penalty.
Defending champions Maties continued their dominating form as they beat TUT 62-0 in Stellenbosch.
Centre Dabeon Draghoender grabbed a brace as the Maties crossed the chalk nine times.
Draghoender is Varsity Cup’s top try-scorer with six tries, after scoring four against NMMU last week.
Varsity Cup, Round 2:
UCT 18 Pukke 11
Shimlas 54 NMMU 5
Tuks 34 UJ 34
Maties 62 TUT 0
By Gareth Duncan
21 Comments
8 Feb 2010, 16:05 pm
Varsity Dragons!
8 Feb 2010, 17:36 pm
UCT playing against the south easter did well to trail by only 1 point at half time.
Their no 8, Gagiano, is having a fantastic game while the up and coming no 6 Hartzenberg seems to spend most of the time in the backline. For Pukke, the 2 centres Jacobs and Watermeyer as well as scrumhalf, Maloney impressed.
UCT should fancy themselves to win from here as they will be playing with the strong wind.
8 Feb 2010, 17:39 pm
@Robzim:
Watermeyer and Maloney were the star performers for Pukke last week, too.
Gagiano’s always been class – very experienced campaigner at this level.
Am impressed with Hartzenberg, the man comes off a match only two days ago!
8 Feb 2010, 17:44 pm
@WP Till I Die:
Yip, Prof Noakes will probably not be too happy about that.
8 Feb 2010, 17:54 pm
@WP Till I Die:
I note you have finally worked up some stamina after very many days, but I guess not enough to comprehensively fulfill your promise.
Relax I am not intersted as I understand your reluctance. You are probably just scared that your responses will show your ‘friends’ here the real colour of your petticoat, correct?
8 Feb 2010, 17:59 pm
@Robzim:
Robbo are you knocking the doyen of Exercise Physiology in S.Africa? That is naughty if you are. Remember this is not Ikeys vs. Maties now, this is international research you are messing with and Ikeys will demand your scalp.
8 Feb 2010, 17:59 pm
@elliott2:
Oh, right. Sorry, I’ve been away for a while – that thread was, what, two weeks ago?
If you can provide me with the response you require again, I can have a look at it?
8 Feb 2010, 18:02 pm
@elliott2:
I have to run again though – I have judo practice to go to.
Not trying to avoid any issues, I’ve just been so busy and have forgotten the exact content of the response you wanted from me?
Post here and I’ll try to have a look at it later?
8 Feb 2010, 18:04 pm
@WP Till I Die:
I said I am not interested and I doubt whether you are seriously intersted and it is for you a loaded topic on this site. You can still do some good here as you have enough humility in you to so do.
Very cryptic, I know.
8 Feb 2010, 18:45 pm
@elliott2:
#6
I suffered many hours of pure agony undergoing cross friction (also called crucifixions) applied to chronic muscle tears. I blame Tim for that as he influenced quite a few sport physiotherapists to apply that technique with unbridled sadism – it worked though!
So excuse me if I take a little dig at him every now and then – it is only because of that!
8 Feb 2010, 19:12 pm
@Robzim:
But as you say it worked and nothing succeeds like success. You must understand that that pain was due to necrotic tissue needing to be broken up to expedite the recovery. Also because you are/were a Matie Tim probably told them to increase the pain level. For your sake I hope those physiotherapists were all beautiful Cape ladies who would then (s)mother you after the treatment.
8 Feb 2010, 20:31 pm
@elliott2:
LoL, I was never that lucky – the physios were all males with hands like gorillas and forearms like Popeye – I guess it was a prerequisite to apply that type of procedure properly.
I never mentioned anything about being an ex Matie to them, just in case.
8 Feb 2010, 20:39 pm
@WP Till I Die: ha ha, judo. I thought that died along with Betamax and fondue.
8 Feb 2010, 20:42 pm
@Robzim:
That’s your bad choice then as there are many physios. that I saw at Groote Schuur and Somerset hospitals that would make you look at them in the hallways a second or third time.
hey what are the Stormers/WP going to do this S14. I read that you are big on De Waal though I accept you do not have much choice.
I will say if the Stormers want to be competitive with the new applications of the elvs that survived 2008 then they must be encouraged to play old W.P.rugby with a FH that can set the potent backs away. Thus I say Grant as Cronje has not been blooded yet, not even at W.P. level.
8 Feb 2010, 21:23 pm
Yes please boys
8 Feb 2010, 22:41 pm
@elliott2:
#14
With a bit of luck the Stormers have a good chance to make the semi’s this year.
Re the flyhalf issue:
I would like nothing more than for the Stormers to be able to play a running game. Unfortunately, in my opinion, under the current laws and with the very structured and organized defenses of the top teams it is very difficult and sometimes even impossible to achieve.
Ideally, the Stormers (or any team) should have an all round type of flyhalf with the necessary distribution skills, attacking flair, tactical ability and a good kicking game. Here I am thinking of players like Phil Bennett, Hugo Porta, Jonny Wilkenson, Dan Carter and Matt Gittau who have or use to have all these qualities. (Herchelle Gibbs and Peter Kirsten probably would also have been in this group if they have decided to concentrate on rugby)
As here are currently no such players (not even remotely) available we need to find the second best option and that is where I think de Waal is at the moment the best. Peter Grant’s kicking game is just not up to standard (I finally lost all my faith in him during the semi against the Bulls last year where his pathetic tactical and line kicking largely contributed to us losing the match). Further, despite of what some are saying, he has also never really convinced as a running flyhalf or distributor – he is very predictable and easy to read by the defenses and hardly ever ignited any spark in the backline (the Stormers’ try scoring stats during the last few seasons with him at no 10 proves this)
At least de Waal is a brilliant kicker (tactical, line, and for the posts) who will win more games for a team than he loses and imo we should play him until Cronje is ready to take over or until we find (buy or develop) someone else. He is also underrated as a distributor and is in fact one of the best passers of a rugby ball in the local game.
So, what I am saying is let us rather go on the short term for a limited player who is at least brilliant in the very important aspect of kicking and at least average in the other aspects than for someone who is a far below average kicker and only average in the other aspects.
Grant should compete at 12 with the likes of de Jongh, Newman and Bosch (de Jongh is actually better suited at outside centre but at this stage of his career cannot compete with Fourie)
My friend Skopskiet will of course disagree with just about everything I have posted here
At least our music taste is fairly similar.
8 Feb 2010, 22:47 pm
I heard Maties won by about 50 although my informant at Stellenbosch sounded a bit intoxicated so I am not fully convinced.
8 Feb 2010, 23:21 pm
@Robzim:
I am not as confident as most Stormers/WP followers are but it is not because of the lack of adequate players but just the leadership from top to bottom( administrators,coaches, captaincy included). Even on Sat. the captain was hot-headed after being dumped by the Boland fh and again at least twice thereafter and then fortunately he went off injured. I hope that between Tiaan, Andries, Van Zyl, Habana,Fourie and even vermeulen and Flo enough pressure can be exercised on the present captain who in my opinion has not since his neck injury played two consecutive games at the level he played before that injury.
On the FH position I completely understand where you are coming from and I know your concern but I have a slightly different read on the stricter applications of of the laws and how it will affect the attacking team. I believe they are to be applied to favour the attacking team and thus refs. will be looking for the ball to emerge quickly( no slowing down the emerging ball is to be tolerated) from the breakdown so that the attack can flow on. If this indeed happens is De Waal more effective in getting the potent backline away than Grant? Will the need for a kicking fh still be as important?
It all depends on the refs. and no one knows yet. We all should have a better take on this after, at least, the first two rounds of the S14. Only time will tell, but I hope the attacking team is advantaged as this will suit our WP/Stormer type of play.
9 Feb 2010, 00:31 am
@elliott2:
The captain is worrying me too – I agree that he is not what he used to be as a player and I also have serious doubts about his ability as a captain being a hothead who spent far too much time in the sin bin.
The balance of the loose trio could also be a problem – 3 fairly similar big ball carriers – we are really going to miss Luke Watson’s intelligence and linking game this season.
(maybe Koster will make his reappearance as a loosie in the not too distant future?)
You are right about the new application of the laws and if the refs continue to apply it to the letter of the law who knows how the game will evolve during the super 14. Hopefully it will lead to more attacking and positive play. On the other hand, coaches might find ways to counter the intentions of the administrators and we might be back to the ping pong battles of the last few seasons – lets hope not.
Anyway, it is getting late, nice chatting and lets see who gets selected by Alister/Rassie – it’s going to be one hell of an interesting season I think.
9 Feb 2010, 01:06 am
@Robzim:
You are correct that Watson’s skilful and intelligent play and his reading of the defensive needs and the need to attack from that base will be missed as well as his coolhead. Koster as you say is the closest in that regardand I share you hope that he comes back to the loose-forwards where his soft hands and other skills can be used.
Negative coaches will always try to blunt the attacking play of a superior team just to keep the score as close as possible but nothing kills the game quite like that ping pong or kick and charge ploys. The 2007 WC was the most boring rugby spectacle in the fortunately only short history of that tournament.
Thanks.Lets hope for an exciting S14 from all the teams, esp. the Stormers.
9 Feb 2010, 07:49 am
Finally, Shimlas look to be playing up to their potential. Have always been an excellent Varsity side, but the past three years have been very poor.
Lets hope 2010 is the year of the Shimla !!!
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