Nadoes need to bounce back

The Steinhoff Tornadoes arrived back in Cape Town on Tuesday knowing that they have all to play for against their next opponents, neighbours Steinhoff Dagbreek (who hail from Stellenbosch), after a lacklustre performance against Vishuis on Monday.

The champion Koshuis team from Bloemfontein really came at the Nadoes with a nothing-to-lose attitude, and soon found themselves ahead in this high-quality Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships fixture.

It was a lead that they never lost as the match went on. The Nadoes did, however, pull a try back, through some good team work before going down 5-39 in the end.

Nadoes coach Tom Dawson-Squibb made it clear that the Vishuis team played well, saying "their gameplan was well-structured and they were faster and far more physical than us". The Nadoes (pictured) prepared well, according to Dawson-Squibb, but obviously not well enough against this powerful Free State team.

On a positive note, the Nadoes can only look forward from here and their Dagbreek fixture is a must-win encounter ahead of the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships semifinals.

Both teams will have an extra week of training as their game has been postponed until Monday, March 15 (it was initially meant to be played in Stellenbosch on March 8 - but has been moved because of Stellenbosch's graduation day). As a bonus for the Nadoes, this match has now also been moved to UCT because of the postponement.

If ever Nadoes had to play a killer of a match this would be it - it's do or die for both teams! - but, at least, it will be in front of their magical home support on the Green Mile.

Dagbreek, who demolished NMMU 61-10 on Monday, have also already played against Vishuis, losing 7-24 in Stellenbosch, so - clearly - this Nadoes (UCT) v Dagbreek (Maties) clash could just set the pulses racing; especially with that final semifinal place in the Southern Section up for grabs!

By Clement le Roux