CUT are under no illusions
FNB CUT coach Theuns Hanekom is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his team when they take on the FNB TUT Vikings in their promotion/relegation match on Monday.
As the first-ever winners of the Varsity Shield - having beaten FNB Wits in Monday's final - CUT will clash with TUT, the Wooden Spoonists in this year's Varsity Cup, at the Tuks Rugby Stadium as one of two curtain-raisers to the 2011 Varsity Cup Final between UCT and Tuks.
Hanekom has already stated that the main aim for his team this season was to win the Varsity Shield, which they achieved with their 25-18 victory over Wits, and he is more than aware of how tough TUT will be to beat.
"They are a side that beat Tukkies and Tukkies are in the final, so it's going to be tough," Hanekom told varsitycup.co.za. "It's another step up for us... and to motivate the guys after a win like this will be difficult."
When questioned about whether he thought TUT would have an advantage, seeing as the game would be played in Pretoria (effectively their home town), Hanekom dismissed such thoughts.
He explained: "For us it doesn't matter where the games take place. We have played a lot better away from home this year, so I don't think it will be that important."
If CUT do manage to pull off a famous upset, there will be two teams from Bloemfontein in the 2012 Varsity Cup - a prospect that clearly excites Hanekom.
"It will be great, especially for Free State rugby. Both teams will be able to support each other and we can bring a lot of young talent to Bloemfontein," concluded the CUT coach.
* Monday's first-ever promotion/relegation game will get underway at 3pm. CLICK HERE for Monday's full 'finals day' programme.
By Michael de Vries
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