The possibility for Maties to win this year’s Varsity Cup is there. This is according to Carel Van der Merwe, Maties lock and captain.
“But we try to take it one game at a time,” said Van der Merwe. “Focus on the next step, and we build on that.”
This comes despite a loss in their last match against the University of Pretoria’s Tuks team at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on 24 March.
Maties is now second on the log, according to the Varsity Cup website.
Their loss against Tuks was their first loss in this year’s tournament, and comes after a win against the University of Cape Town’s Ikeys team.
The Maties team singing the national anthem ahead of kick-off against the University of Pretoria’s Tuks team at Danie Craven stadium on 24 March. PHOTO: Enzokuhle Sabela
Errors and discipline
Even though Chris Louw, Tuks’ tighthead prop, scored the first try of the game, the first half ended with the score 9-7 in favour of Maties.
“[We made] small errors, knocking [on] and losing the ball in vital areas,” said Mckyle Volmoer, Maties scrum-half, on what went wrong for Maties against Tuks. “They also have a good maul, so that’s where the difference was today.”
“Our discipline was very bad, especially in the first half,” said Van der Merwe. “I think we conceded about 11 penalties, and on this level, that’s unacceptable.”
Zuko Poswa, a Maties lock, contesting a ruck in the match against the University of Pretoria’s Tuks. The final score in the game was 19-29 in favour of Tuks, ending Maties’ five-game winning streak. PHOTO: Annemieke Thomaidis
Tuks’ triumph
After Tuks’ 26-17 victory against the North-West University Eagles during the previous week, Dewey Swartbooi, Tuks’ head coach, said that they were happy to come away with a win.
“It is always difficult to come here,” said Swartbooi. “You do not beat Maties down here. So, this is a special win for the group.”
Man of the match Jandre Burger, a fly-half for Tuks, said that the game against Maties was about focusing on themselves as a team and less on the Maties team.
CJ Erasmus, Maties hooker, warming up ahead of the match against the University of Pretoria’s Tuks. PHOTO: Enzokuhle Sabela
Ngobeni’s absence
Van der Merwe was captain against Tuks after Maties’ captain Ezekiel Ngobeni was injured against Ikeys.
Ngobeni scored three tries in the previous game.
“[Ngobeni’s] influence on the team and leadership abilities are a big thing for us, and he’s trying to work hard behind the scenes,” said Van der Merwe. “Hopefully he’s back for the semi-final.”