The Ikeys from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Tuks from the University of Pretoria (UP) will finally meet in the final of this year’s Varsity Cup, after their Round 6 clash was cancelled following three Covid-19 positive tests in the hosts’ camp.

At that stage, the Ikey Tigers had won their first five matches and were expected to beat a Tukkies team that had lost to Maties.

Ikeys went on to top the 2021 log for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 2008, with eight wins from eight completed matches, while Tuks finished third after losing to CUT in their final league-stage fixture.

However, Tukkies’ impressive 44-35 semi-final win against Maties suggests they are ready to ambush the Ikeys in the final.

“That was our best performance this season and exactly how we want to play. There is a belief in the team now that was perhaps lacking during the second bubble and I can’t wait for the final,” said Nico Luus, the Tuks coach.

The Ikey Tigers made a nervous start to their semi-final against the Pukke from Potchefstroom, falling 15-0 behind after as many minutes, before scoring eight tries to win 54-36.

“We hadn’t played in a semi-final for six years so I expected the guys to be nervous. But I’m really happy with how we were able to adapt and once we got our attacking game going, we looked really good,” Ikeys coach Tom Dawson-Squibb remarked.

So where will Monday’s final be won and lost?

“It’s no secret that both teams use their kicking games quite cleverly, but I think it will come down to the balance between physicality and tempo. Tuks want to bash you into smithereens but they do it at a good pace. We’ve got to handle that and move them around the field. We believe in ourselves and are very confident in our game plan,” Dawson-Squibb summarized matters.

According to Luus, they expect a physical game but they are ready to fight fire with fire.

“We will also rely a lot on Zander du Plessis (fullback) and David Coetzer (flyhalf) as far as our kicking game is concerned. But I believe the final will be determined by small margins,” Luus concluded.

FACTS & STATS

• This is a repeat of the 2011 final, which Ikeys won 26-16 at Tuks Stadium. The Ikey Tigers’ other Varsity Cup title came in 2014, while Tukkies lifted the trophy in 2012, 2013 and 2017.
• Ikeys come into the 2021 final unbeaten. It is the third consecutive Varsity Cup that a team enters the final unbeaten, with Maties having gone on to win the title in both 2018 and 2019.
• The home team has won eight of the previous 12 Varsity Cup finals, including the last three. The last time the away team won the final was when Pukke beat Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium in 2016. Both of Ikeys’ Varsity Cup titles were won away from home.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flyhalf James Tedder was a late withdrawal from the Ikeys line-up before their semi-final after failing to recover from a concussion sustained from a high tackle during their last league-stage match against the FNB Madibaz. Tedder is the second top-point scorer in the tournament (105) and his tactical kicking and game management have been crucial for his team. Fortunately for FNB UCT, they have a more than capable replacement in David Hayes, who won the Player That Rocks award after their semi-final win against FNB NWU.

Tuks fullback Zander du Plessis broke UCT flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’ record of 136 points in a Varsity Cup season during their semi-final against Maties and will go into Monday’s decider with his tally on 145. If the final is tight, the 21-year-old’s boot could be decisive.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

FNB UCT Ikeys

Beat FNB Maties 26-20
Beat FNB Wits 40-22

Beat FNB UJ 39-34

Beat FNB UFS Shimlas 59-5

Beat FNB CUT Ixias 76-5
Drew with FNB UP-Tuks 0-0 (match cancelled)
Beat FNB UWC 58-55
Beat FNB NWU Eagles 42-36
Beat FNB Madibaz 34-23

Beat FNB NWU Eagles 54-36 (semi-final)

FNB UP-Tuks
Beat FNB Wits 48-25

Beat FNB UJ 47-19
Beat FNB NWU Eagles 33-15
Lost to FNB Maties 24-31
Beat FNB UWC 31-25
Drew with FNB UCT Ikeys 0-0 (match cancelled)

Beat FNB UFS Shimlas 42-39
Beat FNB Madibaz 75-0
Lost to FNB CUT Ixias 40-41
Beat FNB Maties 44-35 (semi-final)

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