­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

SA Rugbymag

South African rugby news, fixtures, results, video, interviews, and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers/Western Province, Sharks, Cheetahs, Kings and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals

You are here: Home ∼ Tuks charge to Varsity Cup title

Tuks charge to Varsity Cup title

Published on April 17, 2017 | Leave a response

Tuks beat Maties 28-21 at the LC de Villiers Stadium on Monday to secure a record-equalling third Varsity Cup title. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.

The 10th annual Varsity Cup came to a riveting conclusion in the nation’s capital. The hosts had been the form team in the competition, scoring the most tries and points, and yet heading into this contest, they were not clear-cut favourites. However, they forged ahead with great resolve to win, and draw level on three championships with Maties.

Most of the match build-up was shaped around the duel between flyhalves Tinus de Beer and Ernst Stapelberg, only for Maties to replace Stapelberg with Chris Smith just before kick-off. While it would be inaccurate to say the late change had a game-shaping influence on the result, it did contribute to De Beer winning the No 10 battle.

The Tuks playmaker stood up when the occasion demanded it. He added 13 points from the kicking tee – two conversions and three penalties – and produced a flawless tactical-kicking display to help Tuks play in the right areas of the field.

Tuks had a greater stake in territorial play and ball possession, dominated the lineouts and scrums, and broke the line on several occasions. But they could just not execute the final pass to get on the board.

Maties, living off scraps, then opened the scoring with a seven-point try by lock Jaco Venter, who latched onto a perfect inside pass from inside centre Chris Smit.

Tuks’ reply was instant as Maties conceded a penalty for obstruction from the restart. Flank and captain Chris Massyn barged over the line and De Beer converted to cut the deficit to two.

The kickers traded kicks twice before the break, which would have left Tuks pondering just how they were trailing.

ALSO READ: Seven Tuks players in Varsity Cup Dream Team XV

Smith extended Maties’ lead with a penalty, but one of Tuks’ backline plays finally came off as they went over for a seven-point try. Spotting the space behind Maties’ defence, De Beer put in a perfectly executed chip kick over the top. Maties’ back three misjudged the bounce of the ball and outside centre Divan Rossouw pounced to go in under the posts. De Beer added the extras before stepping up to coolly slot two more penalties.

And while there was another successful penalty attempt by Smith, De Beer and Rossouw combined well to ensure most of the play took place in opposition territory, thus disallowing Maties decent field position from which to launch a significant attack.

The visitors did get a late penalty and they set a lineout after the siren had gone, but Tuks' sound defence forced an error and that was the ball game. 

Tuks – Tries: Chris Massyn, Divan Rossouw. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (2). Penalties: De Beer (4).
Maties – Tries: Jaco Venter. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalty: Chris Smith (3), Tiaan Swanepoel.

Tuks – 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Divan Rossouw, 12 Joshua Stander, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Tinus De Beer, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Chris Massyn (c), 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 Bryan Leitch, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Els Corniel, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Subs: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Jaco Holtzhausen, 18 Marius Verwey, 19 Eduan Lubbe, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Toko Maebane, 22 Keanan van Wyk, 22 Franco van den Berg.

Maties – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Craig Barry (c), 10 Chris Smith, 9 Brendon Nell, 8 Devon Nash, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Jaco Venter, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Niel Oelofse, 2 Craig Corbett, 1 Wesley Adonis.
Subs: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Ricky Ngwabara, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Ruben De Villiers, 20 Stephan Streicher, 21 Remu Malan, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Duncan Saal.

Photo: Anne Laing/HM Images

Posted in News, Varsity Cup

Post by Mariette Adams

Mariette Adams

MPU #1 - (DESKTOP SIZE 300x250 / MOBILE SIZE 320x50, 300x250, 320x100)
← Previous Next →

Ratings: Du Toit one of the few standouts for Boks

The Boks faded in the second half to slump to a 22-17...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Duhan should be celebrated for his Lions success

Duhan van der Merwe’s achievements should be truly appreciated by South Africans,...

JdV: Boks-Lions have everything to play for

Performing in empty stadiums will be a key factor in the series...

Dynamic Dayimani: Forward to back

While he has been signed as an ‘edge’ forward, Hacjivah Dayimani could...

Boks have muscle memory to rely on

Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber are experts at finding solutions to tricky...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Team graphics: Springboks vs B&I Lions
  • Boks vs Lions (1st Test): Predict and WIN!
  • Lions team announcement: Duhan to front Boks
  • Teams: SA A vs Bulls
Boks

Why the Boks should be bullish

There is good reason for the Springboks to enter the British & Irish Lions series with confidence, writes MARK KEOHANE in the latest SA Rugby magazine.

  • Watch: Did Gatland’s words influence Jonker?


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • British & Irish Lions
  • Videos
  • Supabets
  • Cars
    • Motoring News
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Daddy’s Deals
×