Record-breaking UJ look ahead

FNB UJ will not have the luxury of savouring their record 97-14 win over FNB NMMU, in the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, as much as they would have liked to - because the next and more deciding challenge is just around the corner.

"We are obviously very chuffed with our performance against NMMU (last night in the UJ Stadium), but our work is far from done yet as we still have to beat FNB Shimlas next Monday in Bloemfonteim to make the play-offs for the first time," UJ head coach Hugo van As told varsitycup.co.za.

"We can take a lot of positives from our win against NMMU," added Van As.

"Even though they are bottom of the log, it still took some doing to score 14 tries against opponents who only lost by a mere seven points the previous week (to FNB Pukke).

"I was very impressed with our play in the first 35 minutes as the team did exactly what we as coaching staff asked of them," he continued. "Our players took the game to NMMU and gave a stunning performance of fast, intensive and disciplined rugby. In the second half, when we scored 56 of our points, we lost concentration here and there, but all in all it was a very impressive performance."

Van As said he will not have to tell his players to lift their game even further next Monday.

"As for us, it is also for them a case of do or die. The team that loses will not take part in the semifinals. Other than last year, our fate is still in our own hands. We do not have to rely on other team's favours this time. All we have to do to make it to the play-offs is to win."

Van As said in the build-up to the Varsity Cup 'quarterfinals' more emphasis would be placed on mental preparation. "After six weeks the players know exactly how we want them to play. Their biggest challenge will rather be how to rise to the occasion mentally," he said.

By Morris Gilbert