Planet Rugby Forum

Maties will be losing the likes of: Mark Hodgskiss, Jacobus Jordaan, Clearance Themba Khumalo, Caleb Smith, Jan de Klerk and Robert du Preez but Rossouw remains upbeat about the amount of talented young players coming through.

“We have been blessed with a good group and what we did this year is that we gave everyone within the club an opportunity to get selected for the squad. We are looking to bring in one or two guys from outside our structures but we still awaiting confirmation.

“Looking internally, though, there are a lot of new guys with great talent that will come in and we are really excited for next year. Going forward, we need to build a sustainable model and that can only be done from within.

“We have the talent here and we are putting the systems in place to develop the talent we have so that they are given opportunities to play Varsity Cup.

“If we are fortunate enough to get one or two post-grads, then obviously we will do so, but for us, it’s very important to develop the talent we have so that we show the guys we believe in them and have proof our systems are working. We have put a lot of time into that over the last year and I think it will all fall into place in the near future,” he stated.

Although Rossouw is uncertain about who will join his technical, as there are still positions yet to be filled, he will be definitely be joined by Adri Badenhorst, Marius Hurter and Andre Smith.

“Adri is one of the best line-out coaches I know and he will continue his good work. Marius is well-known for scrumming knowledge and everything there is to know about scrums in general.

“Andre Smith will remain our conditioning coach and there a few guys who still need to be confirmed but we will be getting a mental coach involved as well,” he said.

Big lock Wilhelm van der Sluys will lead the FNB Maties in the 2015 FNB Varsity Cup Presented by Steinhoff International.

A veteran of the competition, Van der Sluys is taking part in his third Varsity Cup.

Since making his debut against FNB UJ in 2013 he has played 16 matches in the famous maroon jersey and was named Man of The Match against FNB UFS-Shimlas in Stellenbosch in 2014.

Van der Sluys has an amazing rugby pedigree, with quite an action-packed career for a 23-year-old.

He attended the famous Paarl Boys High and was part of the 2009 team which recorded a memorable interschool’s victory over arch-rivals Paarl Gym. He also represented Western Province at the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week that year.

Alongside a host of future Springboks including Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Frans Malherbe, he was part of the Western Province team that won the U19 Currie Cup 2010 Championship.

After being involved with both the WP U21 and the SA U20 Touring Squad to Argentina in 2011 Van der Sluys was primed for a big season in 2012. Quite how big it turned out to be must surely have exceeded even the loftiest expectations that he would have harboured.

The first of many highlights saw him form part of the WP Vodacom Cup team which beat the Griquas to win the competition. He made his first team debut against the Pampas XV, coming on as a substitute in their game at the hallowed turf of the Danie Craven.

He was subsequently named captain of the WP U21’s before earning selection for the seniors. He was on the bench for the final against the star-studded Sharks at Kings Park, where another Varsity Cup alumnus Demetri Catrilikis inspired an unlikely victory.

During the 2014 season he had moulded a formidable combination with fellow lock Jan de Klerk at the heart of the maroon machine engine room.

This partnership, very much in the mould of Springboks Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, will not be resumed in 2015 as De Klerk has completed his studies in Engineering and has signed with WP. Who will join Van der Sluys in the second-row remains to be seen, but there are a glut of capable candidates to fill the big void left by De Klerk.

Van der Sluys is completing his degree in accounting and has a strong affinity for management accounting and is considering going the CIMA route when he enters the professional world.

He is ready and capable to wear the captains’ armband in 2015 and will look to lead his charges from the front. There is an exceptional spirit in the current squad and with a captain with the stature of Van der Sluys, the Maties will be well served in the leadership department.

assfly wrote:Finally have DSTV so I'll get to watch the competition.

Can someone please point me in the general direction of the team from Kwa-Zulu Natal so I can throw my hopes and dreams behind them.

Meet the coaches
There will be plenty of familiar faces in the 2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International as only one coach will be making his debut, while FNB CUT Ixias earned their place in the Cup competition after gaining promotion from the Varsity Shield.

FNB Shimlas have recruited former Springbok, Franco Smith as their head coach and FNB CUT Ixias have once again placed their faith in Andre ‘Skillie’ Bester, who guided them to the 2014 Varsity Shield title and promotion to the Cup competition.

Here is a comparison of the men in charge for 2015 and their credentials:

Kevin Musikanth – FNB UCT Ikey Tigers

Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (winners)
Other experience: WP amateurs, False Bay RFC WP Super League, Wynberg Boys High School director of rugby

Musikanth enjoyed immediate success in his debut season with the FNB Ikey Tigers as he coached the side to their second FNB Varsity Cup title.

He replaced Kevin Foote as head coach after the latter moved to Australia to take up the defensive coach position with the Super Rugby franchise, the Western Force.

Musikanth has enjoyed great success as False Bay RFC coach, earning them promotion to the Western Province Super League A twice in two separate stints with the club as well coaching the impressive Wynberg Boys High first XV.

Robert Du Preez – FNB NWU Pukke

Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (2nd)
Other experience: College Rovers (2011-13)

2014 was a milestone year for Du Preez and NWU-Pukke, as he guided the Potchefstroom students to their first-ever home final after topping the table.

In his playing days, Du Preez represented the Springboks on seven occasions between 1992 and 1993 and was the scrumhalf to two of South Africa’s legendary flyhalves, Naas Botha (at Northern Transvaal, now Blue Bulls) and Joel Stransky (at Natal).

Before coaching Pukke, Du Preez enjoyed plenty of success with Durban-based amateur side, College Rovers, guiding them to second place in the inaugural Community Cup in 2013.

His son, who shares the same name, represented Maties as a flyhalf in the FNB Varsity Cup.

Chris Rossouw – FNB Maties

Varsity Cup experience: 2013 (2nd), 2014 (semifinal)
Other experience: Paarl Gimnasium (2010), Victorians (2011), SA Students (2013)

Returning for his third stint with the FNB Maties, Rossouw will be looking to take the institution back to the glory days which saw them claim a hat trick of titles between 2008 and 2010.

The younger brother of Springbok wing, Pieter ‘Slapchips’ Rossouw, the flyhalf made his made Springbok debut in 2000 against Argentina ‘A’, a the age of 23, in Tucuman and played his last tour match a year later against an England National Division XV in Worcester.

A back-to-back Currie Cup winner with Western Province in 2000 and 2001, Chris was also one of the first players to head North where he played for Toulon in France.

David Maidza – FNB NMMU Madibaz

Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (semifinal)
Other experience: Border Bulldogs (2001, 2008-2009), Free State Cheetahs (2003-2007), EP Kings (2010-2013)

Maidza’s coaching career started in 2001, after his playing career ended, when he became a technical adviser to the Border Bulldogs. He then moved to Bloemfontein to take up an assistant coach position at the Cheetahs from 2003 to 2007 before returning to the Bulldogs as their head coach in 2008 and 2009.

He then joined the Eastern Province Kings as an assistant backline coach in 2010 and became the head coach of their Vodacom Cup side for the 2013 season before taking up the role with the Madibaz in 2014.

In his playing days, he represented Zimbabwe’s national Under-21 and Under-23 teams before earning a call-up to the national side in 1993, where he made his debut against an Arabian Gulf team, in a qualifier for the 1995 World Cup. He made a total of 5 appearances in 1993 and 1994.

In 1996, he moved to South Africa and represented the Border Bulldogs and had a brief stint with the Sharks squad for the 1999 Super 12 season.

Franco Smith – FNB Shimlas

Varsity Cup experience: None
Other experience: Free State Cheetahs (2005-2006), Benetton Treviso (2007-2013)

He may be the only newcomer to the Varsity Cup fraternity but Smith has a wealth of experience, not only as a coach but also as a player.

His coaching career started in 2005 when he was the technical advisor for the Free State Cheetahs before becoming their backline coach on 2006. Smith then went to Italy where he was the head coach of Benetton Treviso between 2007 and 2013.

He then returned to South Africa to once again join the Cheetahs as an assistant coach in 2014.

Smith has an illustrious player career spanning 10 years where he represented Griquas (1996-1997), the Blue Bulls (1998-2002), Benetton Treviso (2000-2005) and the Cheetahs (2006).

He received his first Springbok cap in 1996 and went on to represent the Boks in 9 Test matches between 1996 and 1999.

Pote Human – FNB UP Tuks

Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (6th)
Other experience: Blue Bulls (2005-06), Bulls forwards coach (2005-08), Griquas (2012-13)

Human inherited double-defending champions from Nollis Marais but was unable to guide them to a hat trick of titles, finishing in a lowly sixth place.

Human has a wealth of experience, previously coaching the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup (2005-06) and being their Super Rugby forwards coach (2005-08) before heading to Kimberley to coach Griquas for two years (2012-13).

Werner Janse van Rensburg – FNB UJ

Varsity Cup experience: 2014 (7th)
Other experience: UJ Under-19, Golden Lions Academy Week, Golden Lions Schools U19, Golden Lions Craven Week

Janse van Rensburg could not have asked for a worse start to his Varsity Cup career as UJ ended seventh on the log and narrowly escaped relegation to the Varsity Shield by beating UKZN-Ipmi, who are coached by former All Black and Golden Lions coach John Mitchell.

He started his coaching career at the tender age of 21 when he was in charge of the university’s Under-19B side and also coached a number of other UJ sides, along with some representative age-group teams.

He served as the Golden Lions Academy Week coach in 2006 and 2007 before taking charge of the Golden Lions U19 Schools side in 2008 and 2009 and, eventually, serving as Golden Lions Craven Week coach from 2010 through to 2013.

Andre ‘Skillie’ Bester – FNB CUT Ixias

Varsity Cup experience: None
Other experience: UFS-Kovsies (12 years), Free State Craven Week (2004-05), Wannaroo (2006-08), Varsity Shield (2014 winners)

In his first year of coaching FNB CUT Ixias, Bester not only guided them to their third Varsity Shield title but also got them promoted to the 2015 Varsity Cup competition.

Skillie, as he better known, began as the manager of the team in 2011 and watched the team claim two Shield titles in 2011 and 2013 as well as finishing runners up in 2012 before taking over as coach.

Bester will be joined by former Free State Cheetahs lock, Izak van der Westerhuisen who will be the forwards’ coach.

Chilli wrote:Franco? A good reason not to support the Shimlas.

OomPB wrote:

Chilli wrote:Franco? A good reason not to support the Shimlas.

Robert du Preez the best of them all.

Andre Bester , isnt he a Shimla?

handyman wrote:When Super Rugby starts, there's too much games on in a week, think I'll skip the Varsity Cup until the semi's and final.

OomPB wrote:

handyman wrote:When Super Rugby starts, there's too much games on in a week, think I'll skip the Varsity Cup until the semi's and final.

SupeRugby is on weekends, Varsity Cup on mondays. This year I want walk some Varsity Cup line. Interesting to see so many Stellenboschers wearing Varsity Cup shirts as their normal day to day clothing.

handyman wrote:

OomPB wrote:

handyman wrote:When Super Rugby starts, there's too much games on in a week, think I'll skip the Varsity Cup until the semi's and final.

SupeRugby is on weekends, Varsity Cup on mondays. This year I want walk some Varsity Cup line. Interesting to see so many Stellenboschers wearing Varsity Cup shirts as their normal day to day clothing.

My wife will kick up quite a storm if I want to watch rugby on Mondays as well.

handyman wrote:My wife will kick up quite a storm if I want to watch rugby on Mondays as well.

assfly wrote:

handyman wrote:My wife will kick up quite a storm if I want to watch rugby on Mondays as well.

maybe ask her really nicely?

handyman wrote:Bit far to drive on a Monday evening, about 160 km both ways. Might be able to persuade her, she went to Maties.

handyman wrote:You don't understand. Idols or The Voice or America's Got Talent or some other sh1t will be on.

OomPB wrote:

handyman wrote:You don't understand. Idols or The Voice or America's Got Talent or some other sh1t will be on.

Dunno if you have kids? When her bloeitjie do sport, they change into the most aggresive supporters you get. Its a Saffer thing specially if she is from Maties.

assfly wrote:

OomPB wrote:

handyman wrote:You don't understand. Idols or The Voice or America's Got Talent or some other sh1t will be on.

Dunno if you have kids? When her bloeitjie do sport, they change into the most aggresive supporters you get. Its a Saffer thing specially if she is from Maties.

Indeed. My mum is the most passive hippie you'll ever meet, but when the Sharks are playing she becomes possessed by the spawn of satan and says things that would make Bakkies Botha blush

OomPB wrote:

handyman wrote:You don't understand. Idols or The Voice or America's Got Talent or some other sh1t will be on.

Dunno if you have kids? When her bloeitjie do sport, they change into the most aggresive supporters you get. Its a Saffer thing specially if she is from Maties.

beachboy wrote:Greatings all and all the best for the New Year.

I am ready for the rugby season, have not really enjoyed the cricket too much.

The Ikeys are on a camp in Johannesburg have come away 33:7 winners against Impala Platinum, the 2014 Community Cup Champions in Rustenburg yesterday. I think they play UJ in a warm up match next.

We have lost 2 key forwards and 3 key backs but the rest of the squad are back and there are some exciting young players, including a fullback and a outside centre that will shine.

assfly wrote:Finally have DSTV so I'll get to watch the competition.

Can someone please point me in the general direction of the team from Kwa-Zulu Natal so I can throw my hopes and dreams behind them.

FNB UCT Ikey Tigers will continue their long-standing rivalry with FNB Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International when the two clash in a repeat of last year’s semifinal.

The two teams have won the tournament five times between them and are once again contenders this season. Ikeys are the defending champions after their dramatic last minute win against FNB NWU-Pukke and would want to lay down a marker against their old foes in the late game on Monday.

Kevin Musikanth will again be in charge of the Tigers and will want to prove that last year’s success was no fluke in his first season. The Cape Town team is known for their pace in the backline but will want to show more up front, as teams are wary of their style by now. They will be at home to the Maties at the Green Mile, so conditions should favour them especially with the gale force winds that impacts a game.

Conditions aside, their will be no love lost between the two teams and one can expect a highly physical encounter between the two. One area Ikeys could be vulnerable is in the forward pack, as Maties are known for strong forward play and Musikanth should be worried about that facet of play, after being exposed by FNB NWU-Pukke in the 2014 final.

The game will be one of four home games for the Ikeys this season, which they would want to take advantage of, which means a loss to in the opening round will be seen as a failure.

Maties lost the reverse fixture at home last year 16-33 and then lost the semifinal to the same opponents. They would feel that a win at UCT will give them a major psychological advantage in any future playoff meeting. A win at the champions might even ignite a charge that sees them go all the way for their fourth title.

Maties have a proud history in the tournament and with a whole host of talent coming out of Stellenbosch every year, will be looking for nothing less than a win to regain the status of being Western Cape’s number one team. This was reaffirmed by their coach Chris Rossouw when asked about the semifinal defeat.

“That will obviously be in the back of the minds, although they won’t be out to take revenge we would obviously like to settle one.

He did however say it won’t be the end of the world if they return to the Winelands with a defeat.

“We are very excited, although we know it won’t make that big of a difference as there are a lot of other games that still need to be played,” he said.

Teams:

FNB Maties: 15 Mike Muller, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Wesley Adonis, 18 Grant Prior, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 John Hubert Meyer.

FNB UCT: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Dylan Sage, 12 Guy Schwikkard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Warren Seals, 9 James Alexander, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (captain), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tinotenda Zakeyo, 20 Ryan Dugmore, 21 Nicholas Holton, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Kyle Whyte

Date: Monday, February 9
Venue: The Green Mile, UCT
)Kick-off: 19.00 (televised live on Supersport One
Referees: Francois Pretorius, Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

OomPB wrote:Ikeys vs Maties tonite. Nothing more to say.

DraadkarD wrote:

OomPB wrote:Ikeys vs Maties tonite. Nothing more to say.

I don't think Ikeys will ever be as strong as they have been in previous VC's. Will be a walk over for the men from Stellies.

It's good to see Bloemfontein producing two teams for the VC. Die Fontein van Hardloop Rugby!

Go Maties!

beachboy wrote:So Maties are favourites but I am hoping for some of that Ikey Magic to pull it through. I will be there. PS. Watch our fullback - one for the future!

DraadkarD wrote:Maties did not look to good last night.

assfly wrote:Great rugby from both sides, I can certainly see the hype around the Varsity Cup.

Imagine how good it would be with a team from Kwa-Zulu Natal?

Does anyone know how this two-ref system works? Do both call it as they see it, or does one advise the other one? Great to see these new ideas like the white card system being trialed in SA.

One of the arguments against having two referees was an increase in the number of penalties. The reverse proved true. A player knows instinctively where the referee is and what he can get away with. That instinct is destroyed by two referees and so player attitudes change and coaches’ attitudes also change as it is in their interests to see that players do not cheat.

In koshuis rugby, under the one-referee system, the best the ball had been in play was 31 minutes out of 60; under the two-referee system the best that the ball had been in play was 47 minutes. Under the two-referee system penalties dropped as low as four a match. Where the club would have disciplinary hearings for on average five players a week sent off for foul play, in the six years from 1991 to 1996 there was not one such hearing.

OomPB wrote:

DraadkarD wrote:Maties did not look to good last night.

Dunno Boet, they played really well and thought they deserved victory. Saw some exciting rugby and Maties played the phases really well and they all of a sudden some stupid back try to kick. Stormers all over again. We need to keep it in hand till we score, somethings the Kiwis do so well. Ikeys used up their get of jail card in the last quater. I also enjoy the two refs, specially scrumtime. Maties wings were so talented in schoolboy and look ready to do the same on the higher level. Lewis stepping was awesome. Like the look of Ikeys nr3. Also the rivalry between the two teams is still strong and alive.

Enjoyed the match.

beachboy wrote:

OomPB wrote:

DraadkarD wrote:Maties did not look to good last night.

Dunno Boet, they played really well and thought they deserved victory. Saw some exciting rugby and Maties played the phases really well and they all of a sudden some stupid back try to kick. Stormers all over again. We need to keep it in hand till we score, somethings the Kiwis do so well. Ikeys used up their get of jail card in the last quater. I also enjoy the two refs, specially scrumtime. Maties wings were so talented in schoolboy and look ready to do the same on the higher level. Lewis stepping was awesome. Like the look of Ikeys nr3. Also the rivalry between the two teams is still strong and alive.

Enjoyed the match.

(As biased as I am!) I thought the Maties were the better team and probably just deserved to win. Exciting runners for Maties but they made it easy for the Ikeys to defend as they tended to be far behind the advantage line and were doing long skip passes which made it easy for us to defend by drifting. In the 2nd half they were taking the ball closer to the line and caused us a few problems. Our top wing was out injured but we seriously lacked pace on the wings. Our coach is maybe a little obsessed with size and I would prefer a nippy fast wing on at least one of the wings. Ikey loosies and front row where awesome and the lineout was very efficient.

Both teams should make the semi-finals

OomPB wrote:

beachboy wrote:

OomPB wrote:

DraadkarD wrote:Maties did not look to good last night.

Dunno Boet, they played really well and thought they deserved victory. Saw some exciting rugby and Maties played the phases really well and they all of a sudden some stupid back try to kick. Stormers all over again. We need to keep it in hand till we score, somethings the Kiwis do so well. Ikeys used up their get of jail card in the last quater. I also enjoy the two refs, specially scrumtime. Maties wings were so talented in schoolboy and look ready to do the same on the higher level. Lewis stepping was awesome. Like the look of Ikeys nr3. Also the rivalry between the two teams is still strong and alive.

Enjoyed the match.

(As biased as I am!) I thought the Maties were the better team and probably just deserved to win. Exciting runners for Maties but they made it easy for the Ikeys to defend as they tended to be far behind the advantage line and were doing long skip passes which made it easy for us to defend by drifting. In the 2nd half they were taking the ball closer to the line and caused us a few problems. Our top wing was out injured but we seriously lacked pace on the wings. Our coach is maybe a little obsessed with size and I would prefer a nippy fast wing on at least one of the wings. Ikey loosies and front row where awesome and the lineout was very efficient.

Both teams should make the semi-finals

That soutie wing with the ugly hair cut, Dylan Sage, is he by any means family related to the 13 Jarred (Hopwoods kleinseun)?

FNB Maties’ opening round draw against arch-rivals FNB UCT in the Varsity Cup is not such a big setback for the Stellenbosch based team.

“Whenever we play the Ikeys it is always a massive game. The history and rivalry between the two teams mean there is nothing like just another game. They are defending champions and managed to beat us twice last year, which also added something extra to the match.

“What I was quite proud of was that the team never panicked. Whenever we had a setback, we hit back and this was great to see. For example, when they scored that early try, we worked hard and scored one of our own before half time.

“The result left us as team with mixed emotions. We are disappointed with the draw, as we were in a position to take the victory. The positive is that we still collected three log points away from home and this outcome will definitively make the team hungrier going forward.

“The match against Pukke is vital for the rest of our campaign in the competition. We have the incredible privilege of playing in front of the most passionate university supporters in the country and this allows us to lift our game.

"I have played at all the other Varsity Cup venues and nothing compares to running out to the ocean of maroon and noise.

“With kick-off being at 19:00 on Monday, this means that more people can come and support the team as students have finished class and the public can also attend without having to rush from work.

"The entire squad is acutely aware of the difference our home crowd makes and we are looking forward to run out on Monday and to make the entire Maties family proud.”