So close, yet so far for UJ

For the third year running - it was again a case of so close, yet so far, for UJ's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal hopes.

The Men from Johannesburg beat FNB Shimlas 51-32 in Bloemfontein last night - handing the Kovsies a first-ever semifinal appearance in this competition, and relegating UJ to fifth position once again (for the third time in a row).

"The bus trip back to Johannesburg last night was extra long and uncomfortable as we were all very, very disappointed in losing to Shimlas.

"What this result did to our position on the log, illustrated the limited margin for straying in the Varsity Cup. Shimlas won and finished third, we lost and had to be satisfied with fifth place on the log," said FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As to varsitycup.co.za.

"The fact that our game against FNB Shimlas was, for all practical purposes, a quarterfinal, made it even more important to not play catch-up rugby," he continued.

"Unfortunately, we trailed for most of the match and that put us under even more pressure. We fought back bravely and I must commend the players on the guts and fighting spirit they showed, but in the end we conceded too many easy points," Van As told this website.

"In the same breath I do not want to take anything away from FNB Shimlas as they really put on a class performance. We are used to them playing traditional 15-man rugby, but last night they took us on up front where we are really well-equipped. I was very impressed with the effectiveness of their first channel driving."

Van As said he, and the rest of the management team, had a long discussion on the bus last night and "we can honestly say we could not have done more to prepare the players better".

"Missing out on the play-offs again is very frustrating," he added, "but I am also encouraged by the improvement we had shown. We have been playing in a structure and pattern more clinically than in 2009, proved by that fact that we almost doubled the points we scored."

A lack of experience in key positions and some poor decision-making did not help FNB UJ's cause in matches they could, and should, have won.

"In the matches against Ikeys, Pukke and also Shimlas we played ourselves into a position where we had just as good a chance as any of them to win. The fact that we did not use these self-created opportunities to the full, eventually came back to haunt us."

As far as the semifinals go, Van As says it will "take a very special effort from Pukke to beat Maties in Stellenbosch".

Looking at the other Last Four match, he added: "If Shimlas can field a full-strength side against UCT, they are in with an even chance".

By Morris Gilbert