The curtain fell on a sensational Varsity Cup rugby campaign for FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) after they lost 22–14 to FNB Maties in the semifinal.
With the odds strongly favouring Maties, a team which has only tasted defeat three times in four years playing at home, the UJ team looked to turn the tide to book a final berth in the premium varsity rugby competition for the first time.
Reflecting on the season, UJ head coach, Werner Janse van Rensburg told City Buzz that his team’s performances in the Varsity Cup had been outstanding.
“Overall, we’ve had a good journey. There were 16 okes [players] who made their debut in the Varsity Cup [and] so the experience was new for these guys.
“After losing the first two games, I think these guys really did themselves proud by fighting back under pressure and ultimately still making the semifinal. The semifinal versus Maties could’ve gone anyway since we still had possession of the ball in the [dying] minutes of the game [resulting] in us exerting pressure on them,” said Janse van Rensburg.
He added that although much of what was planned came off on the day, certain facets of the game were beyond control. “The one thing we could not plan for is three missed kicks on the day. If we kicked those over and completed the two line breaks that we made, the game would’ve gone completely different, and perhaps we would’ve been on the [winning] side.”
Maties, who are the record winners of the Varsity Cup tournament having won it on three occasions, will face two-time winners UP Tuks in a much-anticipated final at the Tuks Rugby Stadium in Pretoria on 17 April.
Kick-off is at 7pm.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
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