Half-time roasting fires up Ikeys
It was a case of 'job done' for FNB UCT captain Stu Commins and his team against FNB Tuks on Monday night - but only after a rollicking half-time talk from head coach John Dobson.
The Capetonians secured an impressive third successive home Varsity Cup semifinal thanks to their 38-24 win over the Men from Pretoria at a windy Groote Schuur - despite leading by just 20-12 at half-time, having had the wind at their backs in the first half.
"It certainly was a case of job done," admitted Commins to varsitycup.co.za, "we weren't great in the first half, but we pulled things right in the second half and ended up doing what we had to after a stern talking to from Dobbo [UCT coach John Dobson]."
And the half-time chat? Commins chuckled: "Look, it's best that the exact content of that half-time talk remains under wraps!
"Dobbo wasn't happy - but, as angry as he got, we simply used it as motivation. We took it as positive criticism and it certainly helped us perform better in the second half."
Commins, in an interview on varsitycup.co.za early last month, stressed the need for his team to remain consistent during the 2010 Varsity Cup and he was singing the same tune ahead of next Monday's semifinal meeting with FNB Shimlas (kick-off 4.15pm).
"We pride ourselves on our attack and defence, but we're just battling a bit, at the moment, to find that necessary consistency in our game.
"We knew that we needed big points with the wind at our backs, and, after an indifferent first half, we knew that it would take a big effort in the second half. But we worked hard for the win and now we have a home semifinal, so it's pleasing from that point of view."
Having been part of the Ikeys squad since the inaugural Varsity Cup in 2008, Commins and some of his teammates - the likes of Don Armand, JJ Gagiano, Matt Rosslee, Marcello Sampson, to name just a few - have experienced plenty of highs and lows throughout this fantastic competition.
Although an injury ruled him out of the 2008 semifinals and final (against Pukke and Maties, respectively), Stu was in the No.9 shirt last year when the Ikeys were knocked out in the semifinals by a well-drilled Pukke team - so he knows all about the perils of knockout rugby.
"Hopefully our experience, of previous two semifinals, will put us in good stead come Monday," said the star Ikeys scrumhalf.
"The 2008 semifinal, although I didn't play because of an injury, was a magical match, whereas last year was a real, real let-down for us. It's not a great feeling (to lose in a semifinal), and those of us that were part of the team then don't want to go through that pain again.
"I guess you could even say we've had one hand on the trophy, in 2008 and 2009, but this year we're determined to put both our hands on that Varsity Cup trophy - and to not let go once we do!"
With both the Ikeys and the Maties once again hosting home semifinals, as they have done in 2008 and 2009, there is plenty of talk about a possible replay of the 2008 Varsity Cup Final in Stellenbosch - when UCT lost out to the Maties in the last second of regular time.
Commins, however, was having none of it. "All that matters at the moment is getting that win against Shimlas on Monday - be it 3-0 or 6-5... we'll take anything," he stressed.
"We won't be doing anything differently, in terms of our preparation - although the conditions could force a tweak or two, but we should know what to expect, in terms of the build-up and pressures, ahead of our third semifinal."
By Howard Kahn