FNB Tuks made history by being the first team in history to score 100 points in a single Varsity Cup match, defeating FNB UCT 100-25 at the Cape Town Stadium on Monday.
Both the FNB Ikey Tigers and FNB Tuks went into the match with something to play for. For FNB Tuks, the possibility of making it into the semi-finals of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International was all that mattered, while the FNB Ikey Tigers were determined not to end their campaign without a win.
Both teams started off trying to get the edge on their opponent, but it was FNB Tuks who struck first blood as Van der Merwe powered over the line for a seven point try, with Stander converting.
The FNB Ikey Tigers hit back through captain Guy alexander to reduce the deficit to only two points, but FNB Tuks soon ran away with the game. Dries Swanepol scored a seven-point try after a clever chipped pass over FNB UCT’s defence before Van der Merwe scored two impressive nine-point tries in quick succession. FNB Tuks went on to score three more tries before the first half was up, including another nine-point try from Clyde Davids. At the break, the score was FNB Tuks 63-7 FNB UCT.
FNB UCT started quickly in the second half, scoring two nine-point tries within six minutes through Thomas Bednall. FNB Tuks quickly hit back and ensured that they finished strong. Man of the match and FNB Tuks player Duhan Van der Merwe scored a seven-point try in the 61st minute before he scored a nine- and seven-point try within the space of two minutes right before the final whistle.
On the stroke of the 80th minute, FNB Tuks were awarded a penalty and Tinus De Beer was successful in ensuring that his team made history by being the first team to score 100 points in a Varsity Cup match.
The final score, FNB Tuks 100-25 FNB UCT.
Player That Rocks: Duhan Van der Merwe (FNB Tuks)
Scorers:
FNB Ikey Tigers: 25
Seven-point tries: Guy Alexander
Nine-point tries: Thomas Bednall (2)
FNB UP Tuks: 100
Five-point tries: Ruan Steenkamp, Jan Elsin, Tinus De Beer
Seven-point tries: Duhan Van der Merwe (3), Dries Swanepoel
Nine-point tries: Duhan Van der Merwe (3), Clyde Davids
Pens: Tinus De Beer
Cons: Joshua Stander (6), Tinus De Beer (3)
Teams:
FNB UCT:
15 Nathan Nel, 14 Sebastian Roodt, 13 Justin Heunis, 12 Lihleli Xoli, 11 Bradley Janse van Rensburg, 10 Thomas Bednall, 9 Dylan Tidbury, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Lu, 6 Olwethu Hans, 5 Mark Prior, 4 Jade Kriel, 3 Samuel Theron, 2 Keagan Timm, 1 Msizi Zondi. Replacements: 16 Sean Peterson, 17 Joel Carew, 18 Alva Senderayi, 19 Nyasha Tarusenga, 20 Steven Wallace, 21 Kofi Appiah, 22 Rayno Mapoe, 23 Jayson Landman
FNB Tuks: 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Riaan Britz, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Toko Maebane, 11 Duhan Van der Merwe, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Frederik Erksteen, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Aston Fortuin, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements: 16 Jan Elsin, 17 Genis Du Toit, 18 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 19 Luke Van der Smit, 20 Carlo Engelbrecht, 21 Tinus De Beer, 22 Keanan Van Wyk, 23 Justin Forwood
Muzi, yes, Duhan is some special talent, but I just dont see him getting place with SARU's transformation policy, unless we have a hell of a lot black forward players coming through. But he can defnitely make it to top honours.
Steenkamp also needs to be in CC squad. Van Der Smit can become very good, but he also needs to prove himself at a hgher level.
As for Dries Swanepoel, I rate him high at outside centre. The Bulls must move Jesse to 15 and see what he brings to the party, and play Odendaal and Dries in the midfield. Jan Serfontein's body language is not good in the field this year. He is a shadow of the talented youngster we saw 3 years ago.
I am afraid we will loose Liebenberg soon as well. In recent conference Nollis did not even mention Hanro's name among all of his loose forwards. I don't know why. Kirsten is playing good rugby, but why Hanro is getting no time at all( even Nic de Jager came on as replacement for Arno on Saturday) I dont know. Seems the coach doesnt want to pick him. He will only get a chance if Kirsten and Arno gets injured, by the look of things. In my mind de Jager should have been chosen only if all our nr. 6 flankers are injured.
I was happy for Nicolaas Van Rensburg though. He played a few games from the bench in 2014, was ignored in 2015 when Matfield came in, ignored during last year's CC with preference to Marvin Orie and had to play u 21. He is the type of player who will excell in a senior structure but drifts in lower rank tournaments. Van Rensburg can play both lock and nr. 7 flank.
As for the centres, the Bulls made a lot of exiting acquisitions under the previous recruitment in 2011, buying 4 Grey College centers and Jurie Linde and Van Rensburg as well as the Kriel brothers and Odendaal. We also have JT Jackson in the stoor room. So it is understandable that some guys will go play elsewhere. I am also concerned that we struggle to develop players into the best they can be.
Pierre Spies, waar was jy die afgelope vier jaar??!!! As jy só speel, kan jy maar terugkom Loftus toe, want dan gaan jy die stadion weer volmaak...
Maar dit is te danke aan Jake glo ek. Du Plessis, Wiaan, Spies, Willemse lyk wereld klas onder Jake. Selfs Bismarck lyk hom ouself.
Jake kon nog altyd die beste uit spelers bring en ongelukkig met SARU en John Smit by die Sharks was hy nie toegelaat nie.
Gee die spelers die vryheid om hulle game te speel, speel aantreklike rugby, geen groot koppe of onmin. En voila groot name teken weereens kontrak verlenings
Geluk Kevin De Klerk, Rudolph Strauli, Ackerman en Swys de Bruin.
That is his position! Somehow the Bulls coaching staff decided not to use Pierre like that anymore after 2010 season. Pierre was forced to play closer to the scrums and the Bulls limited their attacking skills. Just look how he shifts the ball in contact and whilst running. With Pierre at the back you always had more than two attacking options. But if Pierre plays like that he is being used to his strengths and thus enhances the whole team environment and bring a new link between forwards and backs.
Het nou die dag hoogtepunte van 2007 en 2009 seisoen gekyk, Pierre was skitterend.
So wat het na 2010 gebeur, dalk weet ons eendag?
Nog baie geluk aan Pote en Tuks span. Onthou egter dat van al die wenne, was net UJ 'n groot span. Sterkte vir Maties game, gaan groot!
Ook beindruk met Ruan, vd Smit, Dries en Duhan, hoop die manne kan goed deurkom in CB, sien ons speel WP oor twee weke. Kon hul nie maar gewag het tot na die VC verby is nie?
Ek glo ons het regtig 'n goeie paar jong spelers om goeie span te bou, maar gaan ons hul almal kan behou?
Ja, ons moet lojaal wees en ons jongspelers voorkeur gee bo buite aankope. MAAR ek vra dat jongspelers ook meer guts en lojaliteit en passie sal toon deur jou kanse te gebruik en so goed te speel dat jy onmisbaar raak vir die span, dan volg die kontrakte. Veg jou plek oop soos legendes voor jou, moenie te gou opgee nie!
Ek het begrip as die spelers in hul laat 20's oorsee gaan, maar die manne wat so gou loop en jonk loop is nie 'n goeie ding nie. Bly hier, word deel van 'n nuwe generasie bulle wat weer legendes gaan word deur harde werk, en dan later kan jy gaan pap skep in Europa of Japan.
Laat die jongmanne ook nou leer uit die geldgierigheid van die Japan opsies, jy maak skade aan jouself. Rus in af seisoen, veral as jy jong speler is, geld is regtig nie alles nie.
Later as jy ouer is kan speel in afseisoen oorweeg word, maar nie as jy nog jonk is nie.
Cheetahs speel hul beste rugby teen ons, dit is nou maar wors. Hulle gaan die bal van orals hardloop.
Groot asseblief Nollis, ons moet bal in hand rugby speel, Cheetahs van balbesit weerhou, dan kan ons hul klop.
Kriel op heelagter, nie Marais nie.