Tuks - 'We're in it to win it!'
Varsity Cup finalists FNB Tuks are aiming to bring the National Club Championships trophy back to Pretoria for the first time since 2003 when they jet off to Stellenbosch for the annual club competition that kicks-off this weekend.
Tuks were recently crowned the Blue Bulls' Carlton Cup League champions, after trouncing Police 48-16 in the final last Saturday - the perfect ending to a dominant league season.
The victory saw them stretch their unbeaten league record to fourteen games. And it's a record that they would like to keep intact when they start their campaign against Roses United of Boland on Saturday, September 17.
"We finished eleventh at last year's Club Champs, so we're naturally looking for a better finish in Stellenbosch," team manager Morris Gilbert told varsitycup.co.za.
"We're not making any predictions about how we'll go about the games, but our aim is to win the competition," he added.
Tuks, though, will have a tough start to the National Club Championships after they lost their skipper Peet Botma to a leg injury in the Carlton Cup Final.
Unfortunately, Botma's injury is serious enough to keep him out of the week-long club competition in Stellenbosch - a huge loss for the Men from Pretoria.
"Peet's loss is huge (for us). He is our line-out specialist and his leadership on the field will also be missed," Gilbert conceded.
In addition to the loss of their skipper, the students will also be without four of their first-choice backline players for their Club Champs opener against Roses United this weekend.
All four players picked up injuries in last Saturday's Cup Final, but they should be fit again for any subsequent matches at the Club Champs.
And with a potential match against FNB Maties looming in the second round, Tuks will want to have their best team available for that potential meeting with the three-times Varsity Cup-winning outfit.
"If things work out for us, we'll be facing Maties in our next game. Our focus now, though, is on that first game," said Tuks' manager.
"It's tough to play four games in eight days. It's particularly tough on the forwards and that's why we're taking three props with us to Stellenbosch.
"Our current injuries aren't helping at the moment," Gilbert added. "We can only take so many players with us... so we're taking what we can."
Tuks, though, are a side that are huge on confidence and are yet to taste defeat since losing to FNB UCT in the Varsity Cup Final in April this year.
And, despite their injury concerns, Tuks should have the quality to progress to the next round where the hosts lie in wait for them.
Day One fixtures - Saturday, September 17:
FNB UJ (Golden Lions) v Noordelikes (Limpopo), 10am - B Field
Park (EP) v Progress (SWD), 10am - F Field
FNB Shimlas (Free State) v Winter Rose (Border), 11.45am - B Field
Springs (Valke) v Welkom Rovers (Griffons), 11.45 - F Field
FNB Pukke (Leopards) v Kimberley Police (Griqualand West), 11.45 - Danie Craven Stadium
Roses United (Boland) v FNB Tuks (Blue Bulls), 1.30pm - Danie Craven Stadium
FNB Maties (WP) v Middelburg (Mpumalanga), 3.15pm - Danie Craven Stadium
College Rovers (KZN, defending champions) v SK Walmers (WP, invited team), 5.15pm - Danie Craven Stadium
By Zunaid Ismael
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