FNB NWU-Pukke
Pukke (17) 37 / 7 (0 ) Madibaz (Final Score)
The FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB NMMU-Madibaz (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)
did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at Fanie du Tiot Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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UJ (12) 12 / 16 (10) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) and FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) did battle in the Varsity Cup 2017 at
UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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FNB UFS-Shimlas beat FNB NWU-Pukke 63 / 33 in an epic final in Bloemfontein on Monday to claim their 1st Varsity Cup title.
The hosts outscored their old rivals by 9 tries to 4 in a breathless match to end the season unbeaten and hand NWU-Pukke their 2nd consecutive final defeat.
The visitors made a determined start to the match, and drove UFS-Shimlas deep into their own territory where they were able to force a penalty which was slotted by Rhyno Smith.
However, they were reduced to 14 men shortly afterwards when flank Marno Redelinghuys was shown a Yellow Card for a dangerous tackle, and the home side took advantage immediately with lock Johan van der Hoogt barging over for the opening try which put them 8 / 2 up once converted by flyhalf Niel Marais.
They did not have that lead for long though, as Marais’ clearance from the restart was charged down by NWU-Pukke scrumhalf Malherbe Swart, who scored under the poles to put his side back in front.
The Potchefstroom students were not done there and added a 2nd try straight away, with inside centre Johan Deysel running a great line, off a lineout in their own half to race away and score to stretch their lead out to 18 / 8, despite being a man down.
Shimlas (26) 63 / 33 (20) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) and FNB NWU-Pukke (Nort West University) did
battle in Super Rugby at Shimla Park, Bloemfontein at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Both the FNB UFS-Shimlas and FNB-NWU-Pukke will be gunning for their 1st title when they meet in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International final in Bloemfontein on Monday.
For hosts UFS-Shimlas it will be their 1st-ever final, while NWU-Pukke will be looking for redemption after having the title snatched from them by FNB UCT in dramatic circumstances at home last year.
The 2 teams have taken contrasting routes to the final, with the unbeaten UFS-Shimlas seeing off the defending champion Ikeys in their home semifinal and NWU-Pukke sneaking into the play-offs before knocking out the table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in their Pretoria semifinal.
There was not much to choose between the sides when they met in the Final Round of action before the play-offs, with UFS-Shimlas dominating the 1st half and NWU-Pukke fighting back to clinch the 2 bonus points which secured them 4th spot on the standings.
On top of all that there is the old rivalry between the teams which is well understood by both coaches who experienced the intensity of the Shimlas-Pukke Intervarsity in their playing days.
Franco Smith and Robert du Preez both played for the Springboks, but before that they did duty for the universities they currently coach and are expecting another huge battle on Monday.
Smith has turned the UFS-Shimlas’ fortunes around dramatically in his 1st season in charge, and he is expecting an electric atmosphere at Shimla Park with far more than just bragging rights at stake.
“The excitement around it has been enormous, a lot of old Shimlas have got involved again so there is a lot of hype in Bloemfontein around the home final.
“I have been involved previously in my career in a lot of these intervarsities and there is a big sense of that in Bloemfontein, it has definitely added a bit of spice to what is already a big game,” he said.
Du Preez is expecting a strong contingent of NWU-Pukke supporters to make the trip down to Bloemfontein with his side and create an occasion to rival anything from the past.
“I believe there are a lot of supporters going down which is always nice. Even from my days when I played the Pukke-Shimlas intervarsities were great affairs, and this one won’t be any different,” he said.
The unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas will host FNB NWU-Pukke in their 1st-ever FNB Varsity Cup final in Bloemfontein.
The Free State side saw off defending champions FNB UCT in their home semi-final, and NWU-Pukke edged table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria to book a place in their 2nd consecutive final.
A late try from flyhalf Jonny Welthagen saw NWU-Pukke snatch a dramatic 29 / 28 victory over UP-Tuks to send the 2-time champions crashing out of the competition.
Welthagen had been the villain of NWU-Pukke’s defeat to UCT in last year’s final in Potchefstroom, but he turned to hero in Pretoria as a superb individual effort saw his side through.
NWU-Pukke were the only team to beat UP-Tuks in the round robin phase of the competition, and they made it a season double to set up a final clash against their old rivals in Bloemfontein on Monday 13 April.
UFS-Shimlas proved too strong for the Ikeys in the first semi-final, outscoring the Cape side by 3 tries to 2 to secure a spot in their 1st final which they will play in front of their home crowd thanks to NWU-Pukke’s win against UP-Tuks.
Tuks (10) 28 / 29 (19) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria) and FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) did
battle in the Varsity Cup at Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Both of last year’s finalists are playing away from home in the FNB Varsity Cup semi-finals on Monday.
Defending champions FNB UCT travel to Bloemfontein to face the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas and FNB NWU-Pukke take on the table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria, with both matches televised live on Supersport 1.
The Ikeys and NWU-Pukke both won home semi-finals last year, before going on to contest the epic final in Potchefstroom which saw UCT launch an incredible late comeback to clinch their 2nd title.
This year they both had to work hard in the last open Round last week for their place in the play-offs, with UCT grinding out an 8 / 0 win over UJ on the Green Mile and NWU-Pukke’s 2 bonus points in a losing cause against UFS-Shimlas, enough to book semi-final spots.
It will be a 1st-ever home semi-final for UFS-Shimlas, who are the only team that did not lose in the round robin phase of the competition, and they should be confident against a UCT side that they beat 44 / 24 at Shimla Park in Round 6.
However, UFS-Shimla coach and former Springbok utility back Franco Smith knows that his team cannot afford to underestimate the Ikeys after their heroics in last year’s final.
“I think they must be one of the more difficult sides in the competition, they have got that never-say-die attitude. They are the champs and they would definitely like to prove their worth,” he said.
2-Time champions UP-Tuks have only lost 1 game this year, which was against their semi-final opponents NWU-Pukke who beat them 42 / 37 in an absolute thriller in Potchefstroom back in Round 4.
The nominees for the FNB Player that Rocks award have been announced, along with the Forward and Back that Rocks and the Varsity Shield awards.
UP-Tuks skipper Wiaan Liebenberg, young NMMU flank CJ Velleman and NWU-Pukke fullback Rhyno Smith are the contenders to be named Player that Rocks.
The Forwards that Rock nominees are all openside flanks, with Velleman joined by Maties’ Beyers de Villiers and UCT’s Jason Klaasen while in the backs it is between Smith, UFS-Shimlas captain AJ Coertzen and UCT flyer Lihleli Xoli.
Two late bonus points saw FNB NWU-Pukke sneak into the FNB Varsity Cup semi-finals ahead of FNB Maties, on points difference.
Last year’s beaten finalists will face table-toppers FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria next week, while defending champions FNB UCT will travel to Bloemfontein to take on the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas in the other semi-final.
Three-time champions Maties romped to a comprehensive 53 / 8 victory over winless FNB CUT in Bloemfontein, but it was not enough in the end as they miss the play-offs for just the 2nd time in the history of the competition.
Although NWU-Pukke went down 29 / 26 to UFS-Shimlas in Bloemfontein, 2 late tries saw them pick up 2 vital bonus points to knock Maties out on points difference.
UFS-Shimlas are the only team that have not lost this season, but they ended in 2nd place to UP-Tuks, who were far too strong for FNB NMMU.
The Pretoria outfit outscored the Madibaz by 5 tries to 1 in Port Elizabeth to seal Top Spot ahead of UFS-Shimlas, on points difference.
UFS-Shimlas will host their 1st-ever semi-final against UCT who battled to a tough 8 / 0 victory over FNB UJ on a windy Green Mile in Cape Town, to secure their spot in the play-offs.
Ikeys flank Jason Klaasen scored the only try of the match in a tight encounter, which saw UJ end the season in 6th place ahead of NMMU and CUT – who finished their debut season without a single Log Point.
Shimlas (24) 29 / 26 (5) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) and FNB NWU-Pukke (University of North West) did
battle in the Varsity Cup at Shimla Park, Bloemfontein at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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FNB UP-Tuks and FNB UFS-Shimlas both secured home semifinals with big wins in Round 6 of the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday.
Shimlas beat defending champions FNB UCT 44 / 24 in Bloemfontein to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition, and Tuks handed Gauteng rivals FNB UJ a 34 / 0 defeat in Johannesburg to maintain their place at the Top of the standings.
Despite the top 2 sides having wrapped up home advantage in the play-offs already, with the 4 teams below them fighting for the 2 remaining places next week.
3-Time champions FNB Maties came from behind to secure a 26 / 16 bonus-point home win against FNB NMMU to keep their play-off hopes very much alive with a clash against the winless FNB CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein next week.
The vital 5 log points saw the Stellenbosch outfit move up to 5th place, 1 point ahead of UJ who will need a few results to go their way next week if they are to sneak into the knock-out phase of the competition.
UJ were humbled in front of their home crowd by a powerful Tuks outfit who shut them out to show how tough they will be to stop at the business-end of the competition.
Another team that will be riding high is Shimlas whose convincing 7-try win against the Ikeys means that they are still only 2nd to Tuks on points difference, ahead of their mouth-watering clash with NWU-Pukke next week.
The Potchefstroom outfit handed newcomers CUT a 53 / 16 defeat in Bloemfontein to move up to 3rd place, just 1 log point ahead of 4th-placed UCT who will slug it out with UJ on the Green Mile in Cape Town next week.
Pukke (21) 21 / 40 (24) UCT (Final Score)
FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB UCT (University of Cape Town) did
battle in the Varsity Cup at Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Maties (18) 26 / 26 (16) Pukke (Final Score)
FNB Maties (Stellenbosch University) and FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University)
did battle in the Varsity Cup at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Pukke (15) 36 / 26 (5) NMMU (Final Score)
FNB NWU-Pukke and FNB NMMU did battle in Round 1 of the Varsity Cup at
Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Pukke (13) 33 / 39 (10) UCT (Final Score)
FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB UCT (University of Cape Town)
did battle in the 2014 Varsity Cup Final at Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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The 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International title will be decided on Monday when Potchefstroom hosts its first-ever final.
Apart from the showdown between FNB NWU-Pukke and FNB UCT, the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championship final and the promotion/relegation battle between FNB UJ and the FNB UKZN Impi will also be decided at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds – all televised live on Supersport 1.
Coach Robert du Preez’s NWU-Pukke side will be hunting their first title when they take on the Ikey Tigers who lifted the trophy the last time they made the final back in 2011.
Both teams secured home semifinal victories, with NWU-Pukke edging the FNB NMMU Madibaz in dramatic style and UCT taking care of old rivals FNB Maties in the wind and rain on the Green Mile.
The hosts will have the psychological advantage of having beaten the Ikeys in Cape Town in the opening round, but coach Kevin Musikanth’s team are yet to lose away from home this year so they cannot be taken lightly.
FNB NWU-Pukke will host FNB UCT in their first home FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International final after both teams secured semifinal victories on Monday night.
The Potchefstroom outfit, who topped the standings after losing just one game all season, left it late to edge a valiant FNB NMMU Madibaz side in a pulsating play-off that was in the balance until the final whistle.
They will face an impressive Ikey Tigers side that handed old rivals FNB Maties a 20-8 defeat in wet and windy conditions on the Green Mile in Cape Town.
The Cape derby was scoreless at half-time, but the supremacy of the Ikeys pack told in the second half as they did the season double over Maties to qualify for their first final since they took the title back in 2011.
Pukke (13) 19 / 18 (8) NMMU (Final Score)
FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB NMMU (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University)
did battle in Super Rugby at Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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There will be some scores to settle for the away teams in the 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinals on Monday.
Both FNB Maties and FNB NMMU were humbled in front of their home crowds in their respective regular season clashes with FNB UCT and FNB NWU-Pukke, so they will be out to return the favour and book a spot in the final in the process.
The table-topping NWU-Pukke have lost just one game this season, and they showed the Madibaz no mercy in their 52-16 demolition of the Eastern Cape side back in Round Four, so coach Robert du Preez’s men will be full of confidence heading into this one – knowing that a first-ever home final is within reach.
The other semifinal will see old rivals UCT and Maties do battle on the Green Mile in Cape Town, with the visitors out for revenge after the Ikeys notched up an impressive 33-16 win in Stellenbosch in Round Two.
FNB NWU-Pukke handed defending champions FNB UP-Tuks their first defeat of the 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International tournament on Monday to claim top spot on the standings.
Coach Robert du Preez’s team were ruthless in wet conditions Pretoria as they shut out the home side to claim a convincing 18-0 victory and leapfrog them on the log in the process.
FNB UCT recorded their third away win of the season in Johannesburg, scoring five tries on their way to a 37-29 victory over FNB UJ to move up to third position.
The Ikeys have lost both of their home games this season, to table-topping teams UP-Tuks and NWU-Pukke, but have won all of their games on the road, whilst the defeat leaves UJ down in seventh place and facing a tough road to make the semifinals.
The top four after five weeks of action is rounded off by FNB UFS-Shimlas who ended deadlocked at 13-13 with three-time champions FNB Maties in their clash in Stellenbosch.
Maties (24) 37 / 34 (0) Pukke (Final Score)
The FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and FNB NWU-Pukke (University of North West Province) did battle in the Varsity Cup at Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Pukke (13) 39 / 36 (26) NMMU (Final Score)
FNB MWU-Pukke and FNB NMMU did battle in the Varsity Cap at Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, Potchefstroom at 16:45 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Shimlas (12) 38 / 18 (0) Pukke (Final Score)
The University of the Free State (Shimlas) and University of North West Province (Pukke) did battle in the Varsity Cup at Xerox Shimla Park, Bloemfontein at 19:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Today sees the start of the Varsity Cup Competition, with exciting rugby awaiting us from all the Premier Universities and Tertiary Institutions.
This year Wits replace TUT, TUT having been relegated to the Varsity Shield Competition.
Four matches are played late afternoon and this evening, 1 at 17:00 and 3 at 19:00, of course, only 2 matches are televised live, here are the details:
- Maties v UJ – 17:00, Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (LIVE ON TV)
- Pukke v Tuks – 19:00, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom (LIVE ON TV)
- UCT v NMMU – 19:00, Groote Schuur Rugby Field, Cape Town
- Wits v Shimlas – 19:00, Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg