Varsity Cup

MatiesTuksMaties (29) 49 / 11 (11) UP-Tuks (Final Score)

FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

Maties:

  • Penalties – Ernst Stapelberg (4)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Edwil van der Merwe (1), Brandon Asher-Wood (1), Beyers de Villiers (2), Remu Malan (1)
  • Conversions – Ernst Stapelberg (5)

Tuks:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Dries Swanepoel (1)
  • Conversions – Joshua Stander (3)

UCTTuksUCT-Ikeys (7) 25 / 100 (63) UP-Tuks (Final Score)

FNB UCT-Ikeys (University of Cape Town) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town at 12:45 SA Time (10:45 GMT).

The match was not broadcast LIVE on TV in SA.

Scorers:

UCT:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Guy Alexander (1), Thomas Bednall (2)
  • Conversions – 0

Tuks:

  • Penalties – Tinus de Beer (1)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Ruan Steenkamp (1), Jan Enslin (1), Tinus de Beer (1), Duhan van der Merwe (4), Dries Swanepoel (1), Clyde Davids (1)
  • Conversions – Joshua Stander (6), Tinus de Beer (3)

 

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CUTNMMUCUT-Ixias (14) 35 / 26 (7) NMMU-Madibaz (Final Score)

CUT-Ixias (Central University of Technology) and NMMU-Madibaz (Nelson Mandela Bay University)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town at 15:20 SA Time (13:20 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

CUT-Ixias:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Adrian Rossouw (1), Mauro Bucachane (1), Jasper Wiese (1), Len Noort (1), Meyer van Tonder (1)
  • Conversions – Meyer van Tonder (3)

NMMU-Madibaz:

  • Penalties – Simon Bolze (1)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Riaan Esterhuizen (1), Nico Oosthuizen (1), Tyler Paul (1)
  • Conversions – Simon Bolze (2)

 

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PukkeShimlasNWU-Pukke (31) 37 / 21 (7) UFS-Shimlas (Final Score)

FNB NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB UFS-Shimlas (Free State University)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

NWU-Pukke:

  • Penalties – Rhyno Smith (1), Bernhard Janse van Rensburg (2)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Lucian Cupido (1), Jeandré Rudolph (2), Wilmar Arnoldi (1)
  • Conversions – Rhyno Smith (1)

UFS-Shimlas:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Arthur Williams (2), Elandré Huggett (1)
  • Conversions – Frederick Mason (1), Pieter-Steyn de Wet (3)

 

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UJMatiesMaties (9) 16 / 42 (27) UJ (Final Score)

FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

Maties:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Brandon Asher-Wood (1), Carlisle Nel (1)
  • Conversions – 0

UJ:

  • Penalties – Divan Nel (3)
  • Drop Goals – Divan Nel (1)
  • Tries – Ronald Brown (1), Kobus Porter (1), Caswell Khoza (1), Etienne Oosthuizen (1)
  • Conversions – Divan Nel (3)

NMMUUCTNMMU (16) 46 / 33 (23) UCT (Final Score)

FNB NMMU (Nelson Mandela Bay University) and FNB UCT-Ikeys (University of Cape Town)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Johannesburg at 12:45 SA Time (10:45 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

NMMU:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Ivan-John du Preez (2), Tyler Paul (1), Henry Brown (1), Junior Pokomela (1), Steph Nieuwoudt (1)
  • Conversions – Simon Bolze (1), Thomas Kean (3)

UCT:

  • Penalties – Thomas Bednall (1)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Lihleli Xoli (2), Gary Porter (1), Bradley Janse van Rensburg (1)
  • Conversions – Thomas Bednall (2)

 

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PukkeMatiesPukke 12 / 56 Maties (Final Score)

NWU-Pukke (North West University) and FNB Maties (University of Stellenbosch)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Johannesburg at 14:45 SA Time (12:45 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

Pukke:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Malherbe Swart (1), Barend Janse van Rensburg (1)
  • Conversions – Rhyno Smith (1)

Maties:

  • Penalties – Ernst Stapelberg (2)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Craig Barry (2), Edwil van der Merwe (1), Paul Streicher (1), Beyers de Villiers (1), Duncan Saal (1)
  • Conversions – Ernst Stapelberg (5)

 

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CUTTuksCUT Ixias (25) 25 / 68 (21) Tuks (Final Score)

CUT-Ixias (Central University of Technology) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Johannesburg at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

CUT:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Darron Baron (1), Jasper Wiese (1), Vincent Maruping (1)
  • Conversions – Darron Baron (2)

Tuks:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Duncan Mathews (1), Duhan van der Merwe (2), Riaan Britz (3), André Warner (1), Luke van der Smit (1)
  • Conversions – Joshua Stander (7)

 

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ShimlasUJShimlas (20) 49 / 72 (43) UJ (Final Score)

UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) and FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg)

did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

Scorers:

Shimlas:

  • Penalties – 0
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Mosolwa Mafuma (1), Arthur Williams (2), Stephan Janse van Rensburg (1), Boela Venter (1)
  • Conversions – Pieter-Steyn de Wet (5)

UJ:

  • Penalties – Divan Nel (3)
  • Drop Goals – 0
  • Tries – Ronald Brown (2), David Antonites (1), Bradley Moolman (1), Caswell Khoza (1), Wian Conradie (1), Robert de Bruyn (1)
  • Conversions – Divan Nel (6)

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Hi,

We have 3 NEW SuperBru Pools for all to join!

  • The RBS 6 Nations 2016 starts on 6 February 2016, so hurry up and do not delay to register for it!
  • The Varsity Cup 2016 starts on 8 February 2016, register for it too, whilst the iron is hot!
  • The Super Rugby 2016 starts on 26 February, we are well within time, but do not delay and register for it!

This year we will do it a bit differently and open our Pools up to all readers of Rugby-Talk.com, but we encourage you to register as a subsciber on Rugby-Talk.com anyway, as our banter and commenting about our Pools will mostly take place here on the website and not on the SuperBru banter boards! It is so easy to register and such fun to discuss rugby here.

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MatiesTuksMaties (20) 29 / 16 (9) Tuks (Final Score)

Maties (University of Stellenbosch) and UP-Tuks University of Pretoria) did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at

Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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UJCUTUJ (14) 14 / 0 (0) CUT (Final Score)

UJ (University of Johannesburg) and CUT (Central University of Technology) did battle in the Varsity Cup 2016 at

UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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PukkeUJPukke (12) 31 / 36 (17) UJ (Final Score)

NWU-Pukke (North West University) and UJ (University of Johannesburg) did battle

in the Varsity Cup 2016 at the Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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NMMUMatiesNMMU (6) 25 / 27 (12) Maties (Final Score)

NMMU (Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University) and Maties (University of Stellenbosch) did battle

in the Varsity Cup 2016 at NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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Varsity CupThe 2016 edition of the Varsity Cup gets underway on Monday 8 February with new laws, try bonus points and some nifty innovations being piloted for the 1st time.

There will no resting on laurels this year as by the end of the tournament, the bottom side will be relegated to the Varsity Shield competition and the 2nd-from-bottom side will enter a promotion / relegation against the Shield’s losing finalist.

The action gets underway in Pretoria where UP-Tuks host NWU-Pukke. Pukke will head into the encounter with a bit of confidence, having beaten Tuks at the Tuks Stadium in the play-offs to book their spot in the 2015 final – their 2nd consecutive appearance in the final.

Pukke fell short at that final hurdle and will be looking to make it 3rd time lucky under new coach, former Springbok Sevens captain Johnathan Mokuena.

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Varsity CupOne of the exciting announcements to emerge from the launch of the 2016 season of the Varsity Cup on Monday was that in 2017 3 universities will join the existing 13 universities currently taking part in Varsity Rugby.

“When Varsity Cup began in 2008, 8 universities were competing,” said Varsity Cup chairperson, Jurie Roux.

“Then in 2011 we added the Varsity Shield and it grew by 5. Next year there will be 16 universities taking part in Varsity Rugby. The competition is becoming more and more inclusive and to have increased the university participation by 100% in under 10 years is phenomenal.”

The Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield competitions are managed by a board of members who will hold a meeting in May 2016 to decide upon a qualification process, whereafter the three additional universities will be announced.

The 3 new teams will join the Varsity Shield, while 1 Varsity Shield team will be promoted to the Varsity Cup, joining the 8 existing teams.

“We are extremely excited about this next chapter of Varsity Rugby,” said Varsity Cup CEO Duitser Bosman.

“The inclusion of 9 teams in Varsity Cup will allow each team to play 4 home and 4 away matches. In addition to that, each team can look forward to 1 bye week in the competition – a luxury they weren’t afforded in the past.”

Previously the teams’ 7 matches were split between 4 home matches and 3 away, or 3 home matches and 4 away – alternating from season to season.

The inclusion of 7 Varsity Shield teams in 2017 will allow each team to play 6 matches.

Promotion and relegation matches will be played again in 2018 for the 2019 season.

The 2016 Varsity Rugby season kicks off on 1 February 2016 with the 1st Round of Varsity Shield matches taking place.

 

Sport24

Varsity Cup 2016 Launch

 

Rugby World Cup-winning former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar explained the new Varsity Cup innovations is an attempt at getting the coaches to change their mindset and take more risks.

Speaking at the launch of the 2016 Varsity Cup and Shield competitions, Pienaar gave an insight into the reasoning behind the bonus point system, which could lead to a maximum of 9 points being awarded for a try.

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Chester Williams

Chester Williams

Former Springbok wing Chester Williams has been appointed as the new head coach of the University of the Western Cape’s rugby team.

He replaces former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, whose contract with the university has expired.

De Villiers had coached UWC in the 2nd-tier Varsity Shield competition since 2012.

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Hawies Fourie

Hawies Fourie

Andre Markgraaff

Andre Markgraaff

Hawies Fourie has been appointed as the new head coach of Maties, Stellenbosch University’s 1st rugby team. Fourie will start in his new role on 1 November this year.

He is the current head coach of GWK Griquas and also served as backline coach to the Toyota Cheetahs in Super Rugby.

Fourie will replace Chris Rossouw as head coach, with the latter remaining part of the coaching team.

After winning the 1st 3 editions of the Varsity Cup (2008, 2009 and 2010), Maties have struggled to stamp their authority on the competition in recent years, and Fourie’s job will be to make them a powerhouse once more.

Former Springbok coach Andre Markgraaff has been appointed in an advisory capacity at the Maties Rugby Club. Part of Markgraaff’s roles will be to look after coaching, player development and recruitment.

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SpringboksThe national selectors have confirmed the Junior Springbok match-23 to face a strong Varsity Cup Dream Team in Stellenbosch on Tuesday evening. The match will kick-off at 18:30 SA Time at the Danie Craven Stadium and will be televised live on SuperSport 1.

4 Players who represented the Junior Springboks at the 2014 Junior World Championship in New Zealand – Warrick Gelant (fullback), Dan du Preez (flank), Abongile Nonkontwana (lock) and Joseph Dweba (hooker) – will again line up for the Junior Boks.

The historic clash, which marks the 1st of its kind between the sides, is an important part of the Junior Springboks’ preparation for the newly named World Rugby Under 20 Championship which will be hosted in Italy in June.

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Varsity CupCoach Franco Smith has been forced to make changes to his Varsity Cup Dream Team which will tackle the Baby Boks in Stellenbosch next Tuesday evening.

UP-Tuks players Dan Kriel and Jaco Visagie are not available for selection and had to be replaced.

Kriel’s spot at inside centre has been taken by Johan Deysel who will now link up with his NWU-Pukke team-mate Rowayne Beukman in midfield.

Visagie was due to start as a replacement and experienced UFS-Shimlas hooker Elandre Hugget will now take his spot on the bench.

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Reniel Hugo

Reniel Hugo

The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Toyota Cheetahs have secured the services of FNB UP-Tuks lock, Reniel Hugo.

The 24-year-old lock has signed a deal which will keep him in Bloemfontein until the end of the 2016 season.

Hugo represented Tuks for the past 2 years after joining from Maties.

He was earlier this week also named as captain of the Varsity Cup Dream Team to play against the Junior Springboks in Stellenbosch, next week Tuesday.

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Varsity CupFNB UFS-Shimlas beat FNB NWU-Pukke 63 / 33 in an epic final in Bloemfontein on Monday to claim their 1st Varsity Cup title.

The hosts outscored their old rivals by 9 tries to 4 in a breathless match to end the season unbeaten and hand NWU-Pukke their 2nd consecutive final defeat.

The visitors made a determined start to the match, and drove UFS-Shimlas deep into their own territory where they were able to force a penalty which was slotted by Rhyno Smith.

However, they were reduced to 14 men shortly afterwards when flank Marno Redelinghuys was shown a Yellow Card for a dangerous tackle, and the home side took advantage immediately with lock Johan van der Hoogt barging over for the opening try which put them 8 / 2 up once converted by flyhalf Niel Marais.

They did not have that lead for long though, as Marais’ clearance from the restart was charged down by NWU-Pukke scrumhalf Malherbe Swart, who scored under the poles to put his side back in front.

The Potchefstroom students were not done there and added a 2nd try straight away, with inside centre Johan Deysel running a great line, off a lineout in their own half to race away and score to stretch their lead out to 18 / 8, despite being a man down.

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Varsity CupBoth the FNB UFS-Shimlas and FNB-NWU-Pukke will be gunning for their 1st title when they meet in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International final in Bloemfontein on Monday.

For hosts UFS-Shimlas it will be their 1st-ever final, while NWU-Pukke will be looking for redemption after having the title snatched from them by FNB UCT in dramatic circumstances at home last year.

The 2 teams have taken contrasting routes to the final, with the unbeaten UFS-Shimlas seeing off the defending champion Ikeys in their home semifinal and NWU-Pukke sneaking into the play-offs before knocking out the table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in their Pretoria semifinal.

There was not much to choose between the sides when they met in the Final Round of action before the play-offs, with UFS-Shimlas dominating the 1st half and NWU-Pukke fighting back to clinch the 2 bonus points which secured them 4th spot on the standings.

On top of all that there is the old rivalry between the teams which is well understood by both coaches who experienced the intensity of the Shimlas-Pukke Intervarsity in their playing days.

Franco Smith and Robert du Preez both played for the Springboks, but before that they did duty for the universities they currently coach and are expecting another huge battle on Monday.

Smith has turned the UFS-Shimlas’ fortunes around dramatically in his 1st season in charge, and he is expecting an electric atmosphere at Shimla Park with far more than just bragging rights at stake.

“The excitement around it has been enormous, a lot of old Shimlas have got involved again so there is a lot of hype in Bloemfontein around the home final.

“I have been involved previously in my career in a lot of these intervarsities and there is a big sense of that in Bloemfontein, it has definitely added a bit of spice to what is already a big game,” he said.

Du Preez is expecting a strong contingent of NWU-Pukke supporters to make the trip down to Bloemfontein with his side and create an occasion to rival anything from the past.

“I believe there are a lot of supporters going down which is always nice. Even from my days when I played the Pukke-Shimlas intervarsities were great affairs, and this one won’t be any different,” he said.

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Varsity CupThe unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas will host FNB NWU-Pukke in their 1st-ever FNB Varsity Cup final in Bloemfontein.

The Free State side saw off defending champions FNB UCT in their home semi-final, and NWU-Pukke edged table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria to book a place in their 2nd consecutive final.

A late try from flyhalf Jonny Welthagen saw NWU-Pukke snatch a dramatic 29 / 28 victory over UP-Tuks to send the 2-time champions crashing out of the competition.

Welthagen had been the villain of NWU-Pukke’s defeat to UCT in last year’s final in Potchefstroom, but he turned to hero in Pretoria as a superb individual effort saw his side through.

NWU-Pukke were the only team to beat UP-Tuks in the round robin phase of the competition, and they made it a season double to set up a final clash against their old rivals in Bloemfontein on Monday 13 April.

UFS-Shimlas proved too strong for the Ikeys in the first semi-final, outscoring the Cape side by 3 tries to 2 to secure a spot in their 1st final which they will play in front of their home crowd thanks to NWU-Pukke’s win against UP-Tuks.

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Varsity CupBoth of last year’s finalists are playing away from home in the FNB Varsity Cup semi-finals on Monday.

Defending champions FNB UCT travel to Bloemfontein to face the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas and FNB NWU-Pukke take on the table-topping FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria, with both matches televised live on Supersport 1.

The Ikeys and NWU-Pukke both won home semi-finals last year, before going on to contest the epic final in Potchefstroom which saw UCT launch an incredible late comeback to clinch their 2nd title.

This year they both had to work hard in the last open Round last week for their place in the play-offs, with UCT grinding out an 8 / 0 win over UJ on the Green Mile and NWU-Pukke’s 2 bonus points in a losing cause against UFS-Shimlas, enough to book semi-final spots.

It will be a 1st-ever home semi-final for UFS-Shimlas, who are the only team that did not lose in the round robin phase of the competition, and they should be confident against a UCT side that they beat 44 / 24 at Shimla Park in Round 6.

However, UFS-Shimla coach and former Springbok utility back Franco Smith knows that his team cannot afford to underestimate the Ikeys after their heroics in last year’s final.

“I think they must be one of the more difficult sides in the competition, they have got that never-say-die attitude. They are the champs and they would definitely like to prove their worth,” he said.

2-Time champions UP-Tuks have only lost 1 game this year, which was against their semi-final opponents NWU-Pukke who beat them 42 / 37 in an absolute thriller in Potchefstroom back in Round 4.

The nominees for the FNB Player that Rocks award have been announced, along with the Forward and Back that Rocks and the Varsity Shield awards.

UP-Tuks skipper Wiaan Liebenberg, young NMMU flank CJ Velleman and NWU-Pukke fullback Rhyno Smith are the contenders to be named Player that Rocks.

The Forwards that Rock nominees are all openside flanks, with Velleman joined by Maties’ Beyers de Villiers and UCT’s Jason Klaasen while in the backs it is between Smith, UFS-Shimlas captain AJ Coertzen and UCT flyer Lihleli Xoli.

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Varsity CupTwo late bonus points saw FNB NWU-Pukke sneak into the FNB Varsity Cup semi-finals ahead of FNB Maties, on points difference.

Last year’s beaten finalists will face table-toppers FNB UP-Tuks in Pretoria next week, while defending champions FNB UCT will travel to Bloemfontein to take on the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas in the other semi-final.

Three-time champions Maties romped to a comprehensive 53 / 8 victory over winless FNB CUT in Bloemfontein, but it was not enough in the end as they miss the play-offs for just the 2nd time in the history of the competition.

Although NWU-Pukke went down 29 / 26 to UFS-Shimlas in Bloemfontein, 2 late tries saw them pick up 2 vital bonus points to knock Maties out on points difference.

UFS-Shimlas are the only team that have not lost this season, but they ended in 2nd place to UP-Tuks, who were far too strong for FNB NMMU.

The Pretoria outfit outscored the Madibaz by 5 tries to 1 in Port Elizabeth to seal Top Spot ahead of UFS-Shimlas, on points difference.

UFS-Shimlas will host their 1st-ever semi-final against UCT who battled to a tough 8 / 0 victory over FNB UJ on a windy Green Mile in Cape Town, to secure their spot in the play-offs.

Ikeys flank Jason Klaasen scored the only try of the match in a tight encounter, which saw UJ end the season in 6th place ahead of NMMU and CUT – who finished their debut season without a single Log Point.

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NMMUTuksNMMU (0) 8 / 40 (8) Tuks (Final Score)

FNB NMMU (Nelson Bay Metropolitan University) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria) did

battle in the Varsity Cup at the Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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Varsity CupThere will be 4 teams fighting it out over the 2 remaining play-offs spots in the final round of the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday.

With FNB UP-Tuks and FNB UFS-Shimlas having secured home semi-finals with big wins in the penultimate Round last week, it is down to which teams will join them in the knockout phase of the competition.

Just 4 log points separate the next four sides, who will all be desperate to ensure they will be travelling to either Pretoria or Bloemfontein for a semi-final next week.

In the early match on Monday, 2-time champions UP-Tuks will be looking to maintain their place at the top of the standings when they travel to Port Elizabeth to face FNB NMMU Madibaz, hoping to end a disappointing campaign on a high.

In Cape Town defending champions FNB UCT will know that a win will see them stay in the competition, but their opponents FNB UJ will need more than that as their outside chance of making the semi-finals rests on other results going their way as well.

3-Time champions FNB Maties face winless newcomers FNB CUT in Bloemfontein, and they will need a full 5 Log points and a favour from either UJ or FNB UFS-Shimlas if they are to avoid missing the play-off’s for just the 2nd time in the history of the competition.

UFS-Shimlas are the only team that has yet to lose this season, and they host FNB NWU-Pukke in what could be a make-or-break game for the visitors.

Last year’s beaten finalists know that a win will be enough to go through, but if they do not manage to topple coach Franco Smith’s impressive UFS-Shimlas outfit then they will have to rely on results elsewhere going their way to make the cut.

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Varsity CupFNB UP-Tuks and FNB UFS-Shimlas both secured home semifinals with big wins in Round 6 of the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday.

Shimlas beat defending champions FNB UCT 44 / 24 in Bloemfontein to remain the only unbeaten side in the competition, and Tuks handed Gauteng rivals FNB UJ a 34 / 0 defeat in Johannesburg to maintain their place at the Top of the standings.

Despite the top 2 sides having wrapped up home advantage in the play-offs already, with the 4 teams below them fighting for the 2 remaining places next week.

3-Time champions FNB Maties came from behind to secure a 26 / 16 bonus-point home win against FNB NMMU to keep their play-off hopes very much alive with a clash against the winless FNB CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein next week.

The vital 5 log points saw the Stellenbosch outfit move up to 5th place, 1 point ahead of UJ who will need a few results to go their way next week if they are to sneak into the knock-out phase of the competition.

UJ were humbled in front of their home crowd by a powerful Tuks outfit who shut them out to show how tough they will be to stop at the business-end of the competition.

Another team that will be riding high is Shimlas whose convincing 7-try win against the Ikeys means that they are still only 2nd to Tuks on points difference, ahead of their mouth-watering clash with NWU-Pukke next week.

The Potchefstroom outfit handed newcomers CUT a 53 / 16 defeat in Bloemfontein to move up to 3rd place, just 1 log point ahead of 4th-placed UCT who will slug it out with UJ on the Green Mile in Cape Town next week.

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UJTuksUJ (0) 0 / 34 (5) Tuks (Final Score)

FNB UJ (University of Johannesburg) and FNB UP-Tuks (University of Pretoria) did

battle in the Varsity Cup at UJ Stadium, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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ShimlasUCTShimlas (34) 44 / 24 (8) UCT (Final Score)

FNB UFS-Shimlas (University of the Free State) and FNB UCT (University of Cape Town) did

battle in the Varsity Cup at Shimla Park, Bloemfontein at 16:45 SA Time (14:45 GMT).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.

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Varsity CupThe pressure will be on in the penultimate round (Round 6) before the FNB Varsity Cup play-offs the following Monday.

With 6 teams still in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals, Round 6 could have a major influence on the final Log positions and play-off venues this year.

Log-leaders FNB UP-Tuks face 4th-placed FNB UJ in a high-stakes Gauteng derby in Johannesburg, while the other big game will see the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas host defending champions FNB UCT in Bloemfontein.

The other 2 matches will involve teams in the bottom half of the standings, with FNB NWU-Pukke looking to move into the Top 4 with an away win against newcomers FNB CUT and 3-times champions FNB Maties hoping to keep their play-off hopes alive when they host FNB NMMU.

The Stellenbosch side have only missed out on the semi-finals once in 2011, and they will know that defeat to the 7th-placed Madibaz will take their fate out of their hands.

Maties showed good character to fight back and beat UJ for their 1st win of the season in Round 5, but they will face an NMMU side that will be desperate to salvage something from a disappointing campaign.

In Bloemfontein the CUT Ixias will want to be more competitive after suffering 5 heavy defeats so far, but have their work cut out for them against a hungry NWU-Pukke side, while across town UFS-Shimlas will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak against a confident Ikeys team coming off a big win in Potchefstroom.

The final match of the evening will be in Johannesburg where UJ will be out to prove their play-off credentials at home against a rampant UP-Tuks side that has their eye on a home semi-final.

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Varsity CupA convincing 63 / 8 victory over FNB CUT in Pretoria saw FNB UP-Tuks move past the unbeaten FNB UFS-Shimlas to the top of the FNB Varsity Cup standings.

The Free State side claimed a last-gasp 23 / 21 victory over FNB NMMU in Port Elizabeth, but that was not enough to keep their place at the top of the Log as the rampant UP-Tuks moved past them on points difference.

There were also wins for the 2 Cape sides as 3-time champions FNB Maties notched their first win of the season by edging FNB UJ 16 / 15 in Stellenbosch, while FNB UCT beat FNB NWU-Pukke 40 / 21 in a replay of last year’s final in Potchefstroom.

UP-Tuks were ruthless in their demolition of CUT, running in 9 tries to pile more pain on the newcomers who have suffered heavy defeats in every game of their debut season thus far.

After conceding 3 early tries, the NMMU Madibaz fought back bravely at home against UFS-Shimlas, only to have their hearts broken by a late penalty which leaves them languishing in 7th place with just 1 win.

Maties were also made to work hard for their victory, having gone 15 / 0 behind against UJ at one stage in Stellenbosch, but 2nd-half tries from Beyers de Villiers and Jacobus van der Merwe were just enough to secure a narrow victory for the home side.

Flank Jason Klaasen grabbed a hat-trick in Potchefstroom as defending champions UCT moved up to 3rd place on the standings with a convincing win over NWU-Pukke who drop down to 5th position with just 2 rounds left before the play-offs.

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