Finals time in Bloemfontein: FNB CUT vs FNB WITS ~ Varsity Shield
Slang Sibanda during the Varsity Shield match between the CUT and the UWC played at the CUT Stadium in Bloemfontein on 14 March 2011. Photo by Gerhard Steenkamp/ Superimage Media /Rugby15
Morgan Piek – This evening Bloemfontein’s Central University of Technology will play host to the second ever FNB Varsity Shield Final. Amazingly enough we have the same two finalists as in last year inaugural event. The only difference however will be the venue. Last year WITS were the hosts in Johannesburg as they topped the standings after the group stage.
Both CUT and WITS ended on 29 points after the group stage, but the men from Bloemfontein topped the standings because of a superior points difference. It wasn’t easy for either side to make the final, but none more so than for the IXIAS. After a shock defeat to the University of the Western Cape in round five and the following week to fellow finalists WITS, they were left with some work to do in order to make the play-off. These two defeats meant that they had to win their remaining games convincingly in order to qualify.
In a way it’s rather fitting that the Final will be contested by the two teams that played in the opening game of the 2012 campaign at the very same venue as today’s Final. However, today they’re playing for more than just the glory of being crowned 2012 Champions.
After last season’s bitterly disappointing Promotion/Relegation match against the Varsity Cup wooden-spooners, Tshwane University of Technology, in which CUT lost after conceding a 120th minute try after the affair went into overtime. It was decided that the Varsity Shield Champions will gain automatic promotion to the 2013 Varsity Cup and the Varsity Cup wooden-spooners will be relegated to the Varsity Shield.
But wait, there’s another twist in the tale. The runner-ups up in today’s Final will play the second from bottom team in the Varsity Cup next week as a curtainraisier for the Varsity Cup Final. In this case the runner-up will be playing UCT Ikeys next week and we may very well see the Cape Town side being relegated to the Varsity Shield as well.
CUT won the Final in Johannesburg last year 25-18 in a spirited match and the won the opening game of 2012 against WITS in Bloemfontein in an equally thrilling encounter. The Joburg boys however did win the last game between these two sides 20-16 in somewhat controversial circumstances, but at the end of the day they won and that’s what the history books tell us.
Both teams are evenly balanced, with neither really having the upper hand. Winning two of the past three encounters and home ground advantage will definitely work in CUT’s favour, but losing to WITS in the previous game could work in the visitors favour.
Central University of Technology (Free State Technicon) being my former Alta Mater, I do feel a little biased in saying I would love for them to successfully defend the Varsity Shield, however, I know that regardless of who wins this afternoon, rugby and South African rugby will be the big winners come the final whistle after 80 minutes.
~ Back Your Boytjies!
FNB CUT (IXIAS)
15 Noel Marx, 14 Alec Mhlanga, 13 Charlie Hitchcock, 12 Gerrit Smith, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jannie Myburgh, 9 Inus Kritzinger, 8 Ruan Lombard, 7 Francis Sisita, 6 Francois Harvey, 5 Gavin Annandale, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Petri Coetzee, 2 Baksteen van Heerden, 1 Rudi Britz.
Replacements: 16 Deon Gouws, 17 Rudie Fuls, 18 Grant Shai, 19 Shaun McGeer, 20 Stephen Griesel, 21 Leon Pretorius, 22 Maphelo Mpondo, 23 Danie van der Merwe.
FNB WITS (WITSIES)
15 Blake Dismore, 14 Josh Durbach, 13 Bronson Lange, 12 Ryan Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends (vice-captain), 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Devin Montgomery (captain), 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Charles Baggott, 4 Rinus Bothma, 3 Phakamilu Zuma, 2 Piers Cooper, 1 Katlego Kgame.
Replacements: 16 Peter van Biljon, 17 Oliver Rochat, 18 Sam Peters, 19 Heinke Hartdegen, 20 David Turnbull, 21 Nkululeko Gamede, 22 Zunaid Kock, 23 Juandre Kirkham.
Date: Monday, April 2
Venue: CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 5pm (Live on SuperSport One)
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Pieter Janse van Vuuren, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
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