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.

UFS-Shimlas hit back just after the 1st strategy break, with big No 8 Niell Jordaan crashing over from a driving maul to cap a sustained period of pressure, but the visitors were able to respond with another Smith penalty which took their lead out to 20 / 13.

The drama continued as NWU-Pukke captain Jeandre Rudolph was sent to the sin bin on the half-hour mark for repeated breakdown infringements and the home side duly capitalised with wing Maphutha Dolo stepping through a gap for a try, which gave them the lead.

They were not done there though and came up with a fantastic counter-attack from their own half which was sparked by Vuyani Maqina, who found Marais on the inside and the flyhalf produced a sensational offload to put flying flank Daniel Maartens away for a try, which put them 26 / 20 ahead at halftime.

The hosts scored their 5th try just after the break, with Marais central once again as he collected a partially charged kick and got the ball away to Dolo who released outside centre Nico Lee to surge over the whitewash.

At 34 / 20 down NWU-Pukke were right up against it and their forwards produced the perfect response with Rudolph scoring a pushover try from a dominant atacking scrum.

The seesaw battle continued as UFS-Shimlas hit back with a 2nd try from Lee, who hit a well-timed pass from Marais at pace to burst through and score under the poles.

That left NWU-Pukke with it all to do in the last 20 minutes, but it was not to be, as tries from Marais, Dolo and Maartens piled more misery on the Potchefstroom side and although the visitors had the last say with a late try from Rowayne Beukman it mattered little as the hosts claimed an emphatic victory in the end.

FNB UFS-Shimlas, victorious 2015 Varsity Cup champions

FNB Player that Rocks: Niel Marais

Scorers:

FNB UFS-Shimlas:

• Tries: Johan van der Hoogt (1), Neill Jordaan (1), Maphutha Dolo (2), Daniel Maartens (2), Nico Lee (2), Niel Marais (1)
• Conversions: Niel Marais (6)

FNB NWU-Pukke:

• Tries: Malherbe Swart (1), Johan Deysel (1), Jeandre Rudolph (1), Rowayne Beukman (1)
• Conversions: Rhyno Smith (3)
• Penalties: Rhyno Smith (2)

Yellow Cards:

Marno Redelinghuys (NWU-Pukke, 5th min – Dangerous tackle), Jeandre Rudolph (NWU-Pukke, 30th min – Repeated infringements)

Teams:

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.

FNB NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dillon Smit, 10 Jonny 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 Makobela, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Molotsi Bouwer, 20 Johannes Briers, 21 Bouke Tack, 22 Juandre Williams, 23 Cayle Denner.

Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Tahla Ntshakaza
Assistant Referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Lourens van der Merwe
TMO: Johan Greeff

KoshuisRugby Championship:

Steinhoff Mopanie were crowned Steinhoff KoshuisRugby Championship winners when they came from behind to beat 3-time champions Steinhoff Vishuis 29 / 23 in a pulsating final.

The accuracy of Dean Alberts’ boot from the kicking tee proved vital to the Pretoria students securing their 1st ever KoshuisRugby Championships title to cap-off an unbeaten campaign.

Mopanie dominated the opening exchanges as they took the game to their opponents and took an early lead through the boot of flyhalf Dean Alberts who slotted a penalty.

However, that lead would be eliminated a few minutes later as Barend Bornman tore through the heart of the Mopanie defence and got Vishuis all the way to their opponents’ 5m line before finding Loek van der Merwe on the right touchline – who stepped in-field to claim the 1st try of the match.

A territorial battle ensued as neither side was willing to give an inch, however, Vishuis would extend their lead in the 24th minute when a rolling maul was set from a 5m lineout and the forward pack rumbled their way over the line. Nelius Van Heerden emerged with the ball from the pile of bodies, with Henco Posthumus slotting the conversion.

It would be Mopanie’s turn to hit back within a few minutes when, from a scrappy lineout, Stephan Smith made a clever break from the back of a ruck to find a hole in the Vishuis defence and score an easy try. Alberts slotted his 2nd kick of the match to reduce the deficit to 3 points after 27 minutes. The visitors would take the lead soon thereafter when Paul Kruger benefited from a well-executed rolling maul. Alberts slotted the conversion and a penalty – after the halftime hooter – to extend the lead to 7 points at the break.

The home side came out firing in the 2nd half and dominated both the territory and possession in the opening 10 minutes and found their reward through a Posthumus try, after sustained pressure on the Mopanie defence. He converted the try and handed the home side a slender 1 point lead after 47 minutes.

Alberts handed Mopanie the lead in the 53rd minute when he slotted a penalty from in front of the poles. His penalty was matched by Posthumus in the 65th minute when the Vishuis fullback slotted a monster, near-50m penalty to hand the home side a slender 1-point lead again.

Alberts again regained the lead for Mopanie, with 2 minutes left in the match, when he slotted his 4th penalty of the match and the result was put to bed when Charl van der Merwe grabbed a try for Mopanie after after the final hooter had sounded.

Steinhoff Player that Rocks: Stephan Smith

Scorers:

Steinhoff Mopanie:

• Tries: Stephan Smith (1), Paul Kruger (1), Charl van der Merwe (1)
• Conversions: Dean Alberts (2)
• Penalties: Dean Alberts (4)

Steinhoff Vishuis:

• Tries: Loek van der Merwe (1), Nelius van Heerden (1), Henco Posthumus (1)
• Conversions: Henco Posthumus (2)
• Penalties: Henco Posthumus (1)

Teams:

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.

Varsity Cup Dream Team:

FNB NWU-Pukke fullback Rhyno Smith was crowned the overall FNB Player that Rocks for the 2015 edition of the Varsity Cup.

The award is a fitting reward for a player whose blistering speed, devastating side step and phenomenal kicking accuracy saw him stand head and shoulders above his competitors, in a highly successful season with Pukke.

FNB NMMU-Madibaz’ dynamic flank CJ Velleman and FNB UP-Tuks’ powerful captain Wiaan Liebenberg finished runners-up for the main award.

Velleman was a stand-out player for the Port Elizabeth students, with consistent performances, often showing the perfect balance between brute force and clever positional play, to find himself at the centre of the Madibaz’ campaign. Liebenberg once again had a mammoth season in both defence and attack. His huge tackles and presence on the field was something to behold, as he guided the Pretoria side to the top of the log standings.

AJ Coertzen claimed the FNB Back that Rocks award ahead of Rhyno Smith and FNB UCT-Ikeys’ Lihleli Xoli.

Coertzen guided Shimlas to a fairytale campaign, after they finished the campaign unbeaten. His elusive running and deadly-accurate boot made him one of the stand-out performers in the Shimlas’ successful season.

Xoli was a stalwart and heartbeat of the Ikeys midfield and kept the opposition defence on their toes with some impressive handling skills and quick bursts of pace.

The FNB Forward that Rocks award went to Ikeys flank Jason Klaasen, ahead of FNB Maties’ Beyers de Villiers and Madibaz flank, CJ Velleman.

Klaasen was one of the hardest-working forwards in the competition and scored tries with regularity, as he helped the defending champions to a semifinal berth.

De Villiers gave a good account of himself, in what was an under-par performance by the Stellenbosch students, as the 3-time champions fell agonizingly short of reaching the knockout phase of the competition.

The FNB Varsity Cup Dream Team squad was also announced and it comes as no surprise to see Pukke dominate the starting line-up, with 6 selections and 2 players on the bench. UP-Tuks are not far behind though, as they have 4 starting selections and a further 3 players on the bench.

Shimlas will be represented by 2 players in the starting 15 and another 2 players on the bench, with both Ikeys and Maties grabbing a single selection each.

FNB Varsity Shield player Innocent Radebe of FNB UKZN-Impi was rewarded for his excellent form throughout the campaign, with a starting place in the Dream Team.

The team was selected by the convenor of Springbok selectors Peter Jooste, Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher, Springbok Performance Analyst Chean Roux and South Africa’s Under 20 coach Dawie Theron. 2 Rugby journalists, JJ Harmse and Vata Ngobeni, offered their input to ensure the cream of the crop from this year’s Varsity Cup and Shield competitions made the cut.

Reniel Hugo from Tuks will captain the side.

The team will be coached by Franco Smith, who took FNB Shimlas to their 1st ever Varsity Cup title, with support from Kovsies’ Hendro Scholtz and Tuks’ David Manual. The coaching team will be completed by Quinton van Rooyen and Tanya Green from Maties who will serve as team manager and physio respectively and Timothy Qumbu from Shimlas will be the sports scientist.

The FNB Varsity Cup Dream Team will play the Junior Springboks next Tuesday and the match will be broadcast on Super Sport 1.

• FNB Player that Rocks: Rhyno Smith (FNB NWU-Pukke)
• FNB Back that Rocks: AJ Coertzen (FNB UFS-Shimlas)
• FNB Forward that Rocks: Jason Klaasen (FNB UCT-Ikeys)

Varsity Cup Dream Team: 15 Rhyno Smith (NWU-Pukke), 14 Maphutha Dolo (UFS-Shimlas), 13 Rowayne Beukman (NWU-Pukke), 12 Daniel Kriel (UP-Tuks), 11 Jean-Paul Lewis (Maties), 10 Innocent Radebe (UKZN-Impi), 9 Dillon Smit (NWU-Pukke), 8 Jeandre Rudolph (NWU-Pukke), 7 Henco Venter (UFS-Shimlas), 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (UP-Tuks), 5 Reniel Hugo (Captain, UP-Tuks), 4 Irne Herbst (UP-Tuks), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (NWU-Pukke), 2 Chad Solomon (UCT-Ikeys), 1 Johan Smit (NWU-Pukke)
Replacements: 16 Nqobisizwe Mxoli (UP-Tuks), 17 Jaco Visagie (UP-Tuks), 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen (UP-Tuks), 19 Walt Steenkamp (NWU-Pukke), 20 Gerhard Olivier (UFS-Shimlas), 21 Mthokozisi Mkhabela (UFS-Shimlas), 22 Johnny Welthagen (NWU-Pukke).