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 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby championship will also conclude on Monday when 3-time champions Steinhoff Vishuis host the unbeaten Steinhoff Mopanie from UP-Tuks in a curtain-raiser to the main final.
Mopanie have swept all before them this season to end top of the standings, but they will have to make the trip down to Bloemfontein to face a Vishuis side eyeing their 4th title in front of what should be a sizeable home crowd.
Varsity Cup Final:
FNB UFS-Shimlas vs FNB NWU-Pukke:
(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-Off: 19:00 SA Time – televised live on Supersport 1 & CSN)
FNB NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dillon Smit, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (Captain), 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Armandt Liebenberg, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Wian Fourie, 1 Johan Smith
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Moletsi Bouwer, 20 Johannes Briers, 21 Marnus Tack, 22 Kurshwill Williams, 23 Cayle Denner.
FNB UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen (Captain), 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Henco Venter, 3 Conraad Van Vuuren, 2 Elandre Hugget, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Theunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Boela Venter, 19 De Wet Kruger, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 JP Coetzee, 22 Refuoe Rampete, 23 Dolph Botha.
Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant Referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Lourens van der Merwe
TMO: Johan Greeff
Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Final:
Steinhoff Vishuis vs Steinhoff Mopanie:
(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-Off: 16:30 SA Time – televised live on Supersport 1)
Steinhoff Mopanie: 15 Lourens Weyers, 14 Ruben Opperman, 13 Ruan van Rooyen, 12 Wynand Bezuidenhout, 11 Werner Gous, 10 Dean Alberts, 9 Albert Jordaan, 8 Hein Schoeman, 7 Christiaan du Toit, 6 Stephan Smith, 5 Wihan Landman, 4 Paul Kruger, 3 Helgaart Gous, 2 Lean van der Walt, 1 Tiaan Heenop
Replacements: 16 Wihan Barnard, 17 Pepler Stander, 18 Pieter Erasmus, 19 Michael Snyman, 20 Zander Cronje, 21 Rynhardt Bezuidenhout, 22 Charl van der Merwe, 23 Andreas de Lange.
Steinhoff Vishuis: 15 Henco Posthumus, 14 Casper du Plessis, 13 Johan Peens, 12 Michael Marx, 11 Loek van der Merwe, 10 Barend Bornman, 9 Righardt Kacheloffer, 8 Jandre Slabbert, 7 Stephan Botha, 6 Nelius Van Heerden, 5 Henfred Linde, 4 E’duan Bosman, 3 Stefa Burger, 2 Hartman Ries, 1 Louis-Martin Cloete
Replacements: 16 Ryno Gerber, 17 Gerhardt Bamberger, 18 Ernst Schoeman, 19 AD Theron, 20 Frikkie du Toit, 21 AJ Brits, 22 James Moore, 23 Philip Van Zyl.
Referee: Jacques Nieuwenhuis
Assistant Referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Lourens van der Merwe
TMO: Johan Greeff