All Blacks must return to winning ways

Varsity Shield action has another quick turn around as the third round of matches will be battled out on Monday evening.

The competition only started last week Monday and by Thursday evening two rounds have already been completed.

The Walter Sisulu University All Blacks will be looking to get back to winning ways after starting off their campaign with a win against the University of Fort Hare Blues, before falling to a 32-3 loss to the Nelson Mandela University Madibaz.

They take on the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) at the BCM Stadium in what should be an interesting match-up.

CPUT themselves head into the match with a win and a loss after losing their opener against the Madibaz, but will come in with some momentum following their 57-28 win over the Tshwane University of Technology Vikings on Thursday.

“CPUT is another big match. Last year we finished as runners-up and only lost against UWC who were promoted, so everyone else in the Varsity Shield is going to be gunning for us, because we are one of the top teams to beat and we have to be prepared for that,” said All Blacks coach Sipho Metula.

Madibaz are top of the log with full points from two wins.

The University of KwaZuluNatal Impi are second having played just one game so far, while CPUT are third and the All Blacks fourth.

“We were obviously disappointed with the result against the Madibaz, but I was proud with the performance of the guys, we did let them get away a bit in the second half, but it was always going to be a massive challenge coming up against a team from the Varsity Cup,” explained Metula.

“Especially in the first 20 minutes we really worked very hard, especially our defence and to hold them out and even lead until the last five minutes of the half I was happy with the guys’ performance until then.”

The All Blacks will now hope to bounce back in style against CPUT and will be helped immensely if the massive crowd that turned out for the Eastern Cape double-header against the Madibaz on Thursday comes out again for the game on Monday.

“I believe the guys have what it takes to get back on the winning trail. Ater the Madibaz match we told the guys to keep their heads up, this is just our first loss and we will go back to the drawing board and fix what went wrong in the match,” said Metula.

The other Varsity Shield games taking place see the Madibaz up against Rhodes University while the Impi oppose the Vikings.

The Blues have a bye this week.

So everyone else in the Varsity Shield is going to be gunning for us

Sipho Metula

WSU All Blacks coach