Back your boytjies, pleads Toks
Former Springbok prop Toks van der Linde has urged the South African rugby public - and, in particular, the various universities' alumni - to get behind their teams ahead of the semifinals of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
With just four teams - the Maties, Ikeys, Shimlas and Pukke - remaining in title contention in the 2010 Varsity Cup, Van der Linde can hardly wait for Monday's semifinals; in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
Of course, the seven-Test veteran is fortunate that he has to watch Varsity Cup rugby - in his role as a SuperSport commentator - but he insists that he would not want it any other way.
"This really is an outstanding competition," he told this website, "hats off to the organisers for what they have already achieved and for what lies ahead - the Varsity Cup is here to stay.
"The level of rugby is obviously very, very high, but the quality of players produced, in such a short space of time, has been amazing," added Van der Linde.
"Already, in Juan de Jongh, the Varsity Cup has produced a Springbok. But, this year, I have been impressed with guys like Boom Prinsloo [Shimlas], Lola Waka [UJ], Conrad Hoffmann [Maties] and UCT's Ashley Wells, who has impressed me in the loose. I could go on, and on, but there are so many good players in the Varsity Cup - I have been completely impressed.
"My only gripe with the Varsity Cup is that I would like decent air-conditioning in the commentary boxes! Jeesh, it's been hot up there this season - but maybe that's because the rugby I'm commentating is getting me more flustered than normal," he chuckled.
But the quality of the players aside (not to mention his ventilation issues!), Van der Linde cannot help but be impressed by the huge following the Varsity Cup has demanded - in just three years of existence.
He told varsitycup.co.za: "I was in Kroonstad on business earlier this week and I'm used to talking rugby with my clients... only this time, the guys weren't talking Super 14 or Springbok rugby - they were talking Varsity Cup.
"I happened to meet with plenty of alumni from the four semifinalists and the guys in Kroonstad, in particular, were very excited about Shimlas being in the semifinals for the first time.
"Look, I know Monday is a public holiday, and I know how much the Capetonians love the beach... but I'd like to urge everyone; go to the beach in the morning and then head down to UCT for their match. I am pretty sure Maties will be sold out once again, but as there are no students at UCT on Monday, parking won't be a problem - so get down there, whether you're an Ikeys or a Shimlas fan!"
As an old Kovsies (Shimlas) student, Van der Linde will obviously be backing the first-time semifinalists in their encounter at the notorious Green Mile - a match he will be commentating on.
"It's going to be tough for them," he conceded. "Shimlas play a great brand of running rugby, but the wind at UCT is tricky and they have lost their flyhalf Reinhardt Erwee to a serious knee injury.
"I spoke to Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel, at length after their win over UJ (on Monday night), about the conditions in Cape Town - but I have a suspicion that UCT could just be too strong at home."
And the other semifinal? "Maties are the obvious favourites [against Pukke]," replied Toks.
"Pukke haven't done as well as they should've this season - I mean they have the rugby institute in Potch and Rudy (Joubert) is an experienced and proven coach.
"Anything can happen on the night in a semifinal or a final, but Chean Roux is a good coach and they will have some Vodacom Cup players back which will no doubt boost them. I can't see the Maties losing."
Looking beyond this Monday, to the final on March 29, Van der Linde said he "would be very surprised" if the Maties were denied a hat-trick of Varsity Cup titles.
But, like so many other pundits, he believes the Ikeys - should they beat Shimlas - could make life hard for them were they to meet in another final.
"If it's a Maties-Ikeys final, the Maties will have to play a lot better than they did the last time these sides met in Stellenbosch (a few weeks ago)," he said.
"Stellenbosch were lucky to beat UCT that night - the Ikeys played well," he said. "Matt Rosslee is a good flyhalf, but he didn't have his best game (last time out)... [But] the fact remains is that Stellenbosch know how to win finals and that could just get them through in the end."
By Howard Kahn