Shimlas, Tuks in vital showdown
Shimlas tackle Tuks in a Varsity Cup match on Monday that both former champions will be hell bent on winning to claim a place in the season-ending playoffs and a home semifinal.
With top side Maties enjoying a bye, the battle for second place is on with Tuks of Pretoria currently filling that slot, while Shimlas of the Free State and UJ of Johannesburg are on course for a top-four finish as well.
Defending champions Pukke of Potchefstroom could well end up not qualifying for the next round after back-to-back defeats, the last a shock home loss to Cup returnees Wits.
They find themselves in fifth place with two games to play.
Wits, the Ikey Tigers, NMMU Madibas and Free State outfit CUT complete the bottom four and only have pride to play for.
CUT remain winless after five games and prop up the log, while the Madibas of Port Elizabeth have picked up a solitary win from five outings to be second-bottom. Sixth-placed Wits and third bottom Ikeys have two wins apiece.
Tuks last lifted the trophy when completing the double in 2013. They have since not made the finals but the class of 2017 appear ready to stake a claim for the silverware.
Four wins from five sees them within five points of Maties (24 points) with a game in hand.
A try-scoring bonus point to go with a victory at Shimlas would move them to the top on points difference.
Shimmies have not reached the heights of 2015 when they lifted the title for the first time with an unbeaten record.
They made a strong start in 2017 winning their opening two matches, before Ikeys beat them. They won their next two against CUT and Pukke and then tasted defeat for the second time at the hands of high-flying Maties (60-12) a week ago in Bloemfontein.
That same day Tuks beat CUT 100-0 scoring 14 tries, a year after beating Ikeys 100-25 to become the first team to score 100 points.
Shimmies will want to halt Tuks’ charge and a win would do their cause the world of good. Their final game is against the Madibas.
Tuks will want to bag full points as this would set them up for a home semifinal and possible home final if they end up denying Maties top spot at the conclusion of the roundrobin stage.
Their coach, Pote Human, is expecting a tough outing.
“Shimmies, who I’ve coached before, are at home and have a lot to play for, especially after what happened to them last Monday. They, like us, want to challenge for the trophy, so who wants it the most will more than likely carry the day,” Human said.
“The fact that we put 100 past CUT counts for little more than a proud stat, this is a new challenge and one we won’t be approaching lightly.
“I’ve told the boys our season only starts now. For sure we want to go home with maximum points. We then play Ikeys before taking on Pukke in the final round and we want to be at the summit after that.”
Rightwinger Dewald Naude scored a hat-trick of tries against CUT while fullback Manie Libbok crossed for a brace. In all, 11 players touched down in a show of force that Shimmies would have taken note of. Monday’s other fixtures (home teams first): Ikeys vs UJ (4.45pm, live on SuperSport); Wits vs Madibas (7pm, live on Supersport); CUT vs Pukke.