Shimlas to address the two 'D's
After losing 27-29 in the last 15 seconds against the FNB Madibaz on Monday night, the FNB Shimlas have their work cut out for them this week when they travel to Stellenbosch in third-round Varsity Cup action.
According to Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel, defence and discipline at the breakdown will dominate training in Bloemfontein this week.
"Our road just got steeper... but it's our own fault," Swanepoel told this website. "Our discipline cost us," he added, "yellow cards at the breakdown points put us out of the game. It's tough to play a quarter of any match with (just) 14 players."
Shimlas players Fanie van der Walt and JC van Wyk both got yellow cards at different stages of the game against the Madibaz.
Swanepoel admitted: "We have no qualms with referee Ben Crouse's yellow cards, we can't complain, but the fact that we got yellow cards is troubling.
"All Varsity Cup referees are tough on discipline this year and we knew it going into the season."
Kovsies lock Joubert Horn was also sin-binned for delivering a deliberate head-butt to an Ikeys opponent in Week One, meaning three yellow cards in two matches for the Men from the Free State - although it did not cost them against the Ikeys in Cape Town.
"Our intensity against NMMU was lower than against the Ikeys," lamented Swanepoel, "I did not expect less than NMMU brought though and I warned the guys about it. This was also going to be a tricky game and we slipped up."
Despite his team's shock home loss, Swanepoel is aware of what needs to be done in the remainder of the competition.
"We have just three home games this season - we've messed up in a game that we should have won (at home). All our away games are against difficult sides from here on forth."
Their away travels continue in Round Three, when the Shimlas take on the unbeaten FNB Maties in Stellenbosch on Monday, February 20.
The Maties might well be toughest nut to crack in the 2012 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. The three-times champions beat TUT 52-2 in Week One and made a 14-12 comeback against Pukke this past week - after trailing for 79 minutes of the match.
It certainly does not make things easier for the Kovsies - especially away from home.
By Stefan Lotter
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