Before the start of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield, not many would have taken a gamble and predicted that FNB Varsity College will make it all the way to the final in their debut season.
And yet this is precisely where the Comets find themselves after a superb season. Last week they travelled to Gqeberha and beat FNB Madibaz in a pulsating semi-final. Now they are ready to take on FNB UP-Tuks in Friday’s final in Pretoria. Kick-off is at 17:30.
Forwards and assistant Robin Swanepoel says his team are facing a tough task in that the Pretoria giants are yet to lose a game this year and have had the advantage of working together longer as a team.
“Tuks have been together for three years during which they won the FNB Varsity Cup with that same side. We’re a side that’s been put together for about seven months now. So that’s a huge factor.”
Despite a hefty defeat (21-75) in their meeting earlier in the season, the Durban-based side managed to run in three tries, proving that the defensive lines of the Stripe Generation can be breached.
Swanepoel didn’t hold back in praising the Tuks management but at the same time also briefly mentioning his team’s plan to capitalise on their opponent’s ability to concede points.
“Yes, Tuks are a very well drilled side. Coach Dewey Swartbooi, I have a lot of respect for him, he is an exceptionally good coach. We are approaching this game with the mindset of keeping our systems in place. We are sticking to the things we can control and not the things we cannot control.”
Without wanting to divulge too much of the tactics Varsity College will use for this David and Goliath final, Swanepoel emphasized his team are not going to simply lie down and be run over.
“They are a very physical side on attack. In fact, they are brutal at times. But you know what, the determination and belief I’ve seen in this VC Comets side in the last three fixtures certainly does not point to a story of a side that’s going to backdown or lie down and be run over by anyone. We all know the outcome of the David and Goliath story.”
by Mpendulo Letsoalo
