Preview: Varsity Cup Final

Both the UFS-Shimlas and NWU-Pukke will be gunning for their first title when they meet in the Varsity Cup Final in Bloemfontein on Monday.

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

The two 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 UP-Tuks in their Pretoria semifinal.

There was not much to choose between the sides when they met in the final round of league action before the play-offs - with UFS-Shimlas dominating the first half and NWU-Pukke fighting back to clinch the two bonus points which secured them fourth 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 first 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.

* The hostel league  championship will also conclude on Monday when three-time champions Vishuis host the unbeaten Mopanie from UP-Tuks in a curtain-raiser to the main Final.

Mopanie have swept all before them this season to end top of the standings, but they will have to make the trip down to Bloemfontein to face a Vishuis side eyeing their fourth title in front of what should be a sizeable home crowd.

Teams and match details for Monday, April 13:

UFS-Shimlas v NWU-Pukke

(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 19.00)

Teams:

NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dillon Smit, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Armandt Liebenberg, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Wian Fourie, 1 Johan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Moletsi Bouwer, 20 Johannes Briers, 21 Marnus Tack, 22 Kurshwill Williams, 23 Cayle Denner.

UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen (captain), 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Johan van der Hoogt, 4 Henco Venter, 3 Conraad Van Vuuren, 2 Elandre Hugget, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Theunis Nieuwoudt, 18 Boela Venter, 19 De Wet Kruger, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 JP Coetzee, 22 Refuoe Rampete, 23 Dolph Botha.

Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Tahla Ntshakaza

Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Lourens van der Merwe

TMO: Johan Greeff

Hostel league  Final:

Vishuis v Mopanie

(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 16.30)

Teams:

Mopanie: 15 Lourens Weyers, 14 Ruben Opperman, 13 Ruan van Rooyen, 12 Wynand Bezuidenhout, 11 Werner Gous, 10 Dean Alberts, 9 Albert Jordaan, 8 Hein Schoeman, 7 Christiaan du Toit, 6 Stephan Smith, 5 Wihan Landman, 4 Paul Kruger, 3 Helgaart Gous, 2 Lean van der Walt, 1 Tiaan Heenop.

Replacements: 16 Wihan Barnard, 17 Pepler Stander, 18 Pieter Erasmus, 19 Michael Snyman, 20 Zander Cronje, 21 Rynhardt Bezuidenhout, 22 Charl van der Merwe, 23 Andreas de Lange.

Vishuis: 15 Henco Posthumus, 14 Casper du Plessis, 13 Johan Peens, 12 Michael Marx, 11 Loek van der Merwe, 10 Barend Bornman, 9 Righardt Kacheloffer, 8 Jandre Slabbert, 7 Stephan Botha, 6 Nelius Van Heerden, 5 Henfred Linde, 4 Eduan Bosman, 3 Stefa Burger, 2 Hartman Ries, 1 Louis-Martin Cloete.

Replacements: 16 Ryno Gerber, 17 Gerhardt Bamberger, 18 Ernst Schoeman, 19 AD Theron, 20 Frikkie du Toit, 21 AJ Brits, 22 James Moore, 23 Philip Van Zyl.

Referee: Jacques Nieuwenhuis

Assistant referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Lourens van der Merwe

TMO: Johan Greeff