Fit-again Peverett 'raring to go'
'Any rugby player just wants to play - I'm no different and I cannot wait for Monday.' Those are the words of fit-again FNB Maties skipper Cameron Peverett who, rather belatedly, will make his first start of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Peverett picked up a rib injury during pre-season training which ruled him out of action until Round Four - when the defending champions hosted Shimlas in Stellenbosch, a game they won 31-15.
"It's been a bit tough watching the guys play such good rugby in my absence and I'm very excited about my first start," he told varsitycup.co.za.
"Any rugby player just wants to play - I'm no different and I cannot wait for Monday."
Speaking about the injury, he added: "Rib injuries are tough ones, you know... they're unpredictable. I was never worried or anything like that when I was injured, but I am relieved to be back."
Having come off the bench on three successive Mondays, Peverett's return to the Maties starting XV - ahead of their final-round league fixture - could not have come at a better time.
The back-to-back champions travel to Potchefstroom this week, to face last year's losing finalists - the FNB NWU-Pukke, before hosting a third semifinal in a row and, possibly (or probably!), the 2010 final.
He said: "It's a tough one for any coach. Tertius Daniller has had a storming season at No.8 and as much I would've loved to have gone straight back into the starting team, Chean [coach Chean Roux] has handled my return very well - after all, the well-being of the team is more important than any player's.
"I really don't think the team lost anything without me, but I remained close to the team and I did a bit of talking where I could - at first, when I wasn't playing, and then when I was back on the bench," he added.
"Lourens [Adriaanse] did a superb job as captain, but I am different in that I talk a bit more," added Cameron. "Thankfully, the guys are used to me, having been part of the side when I was injured, but you have to respect Lourens's leadership - he isn't a talker like me, but the guys followed him because of his strong work ethic."
Peverett, 23, will pack down at No.8 on Monday - a position he would like to specialise in from now on and he revealed: "The plan at the start of this year was for me to play at No.8 - unfortunately it didn't work out that way.
"I don't mind playing on the flank, but I just enjoy the roaming possibilities involved with No.8. The role of a No.8 has changed a lot these days - especially the positional aspects - but I still enjoy it [the most] and would like to play most of my rugby there, if possible."
Tomorrow's last-round clash against the Pukke is a tricky proposition for the Men in Maroon.
A loss does not matter for the Maties - as they have already secured a home semifinal and final - but they have the opportunity of becoming the first-ever side to finish the league season unbeaten, having picked up a staggering five bonus-point victories in the process.
The Pukke, however, have everything to play for as they need to win - and win well - to keep UCT from overtaking them on the log and, thereby, grabbing that second home semifinal.
"We want to win every game we play," said Peverett to this website, "being top of the log does not change anything for us. If you don't have a killer instinct in every game you play, well, you could struggle.
"Our aim is to play the best that we can and if we end up winning by a big margin (in Potchefstroom), then so be it," he added.
"It was never our aim to have the perfect season and win every match, but we can't afford to suddenly start losing at this stage of the season. The point of rugby is to win every game you play and if we play well, we can achieve that."
CLICK HERE for the Maties XV for Monday's match (kick-off 4.30pm - live on SuperSport One)!