Big guns ready to rock

IF HISTORY is anything to go by, the Varsity Cup clash between Tuks and Maties is set to be the Round Three highlight.

Maties will travel to Pretoria for tonight’s North-South fixture after both sides won their opening two matches of the 2019 edition of the competition.

Tuks Stadium will present the winner of the televised contest a chance to take an early lead at the top of the log as both teams have gained nine points each from their efforts, with Maties sitting at the top thanks to their superior points difference.

The defending champions dismantled UCT 66-5 at the Green Mile last week in what seemed like an all-too-simple continuation of their hot 2018 form, while Tuks beat UJ 40-19 in impressive style on Tuesday after the Mondaynight event was postponed due to loadshedding.

There was no lack of fire-power from Maties last week, and given their early form, things shouldn’t change too much this evening.

Outside centre Cornel Smit scored four tries which, in addition to his general capabilities, automatically makes him one to watch tonight.

SA Under-20 star Edwill van der Merwe was also among the try-scorers in Round Two, while wing Duncan Saal – another player in need of no introduction on the Varsity Cup scene – also dotted down.

The Maties squad of course comes with no shortage of players to watch. And neither do Tuks.

Flyhalf Tinus de Beer had a brilliant outing last week as he set up attack after attack, while outside centre Erich Cronje put in a solid performance to bag the Player that Rocks award.

In the other fixtures, NWU (sixth on the log) are back in action after a Round-Two bye to face

Cup newcomers UWC (eighth) in front of their home crowd in Potchefstroom.

Earlier in the day, CUT and UJ (seventh and ninth respectively) will hunt their first Ws of the season when they meet in Bloemfontein, while Shimlas (third) will look to make it two-out-of-two when they face Wits (fourth) in Johannesburg after their opening win over UWC last week.