Maties and Tukkies set to battle it out in the Varsity Cup Final

These two sides have met a record 15 times including three semifinals and two finals since the inception of the competition in 2008.

Maties have beaten Tuks eight times including the 2008, 2009 and 2016 semifinals while the Pretoria side has won this fixture six times including the 2012 and 2013 final.

The home side are the only side, apart from Maties, to have won back-to-back Varsity Cup titles.

Last time these two sides met, Tuks edged past the Maroon Machine, 13-9 in a tense battle in Pretoria in the opening round.

Should the visitors take this one, they will increase their number of tournament victories from three to a record-breaking fourth, however, if Tuks win it, they will become the second side in Varsity Cup history to win the title three times, after Maties.

Playing in his 41st Varsity Cup match, Maties utility back Craig Barry believes that the visitors have what it takes to claim their fourth Varsity Cup trophy.

The 24-year-old was handed the captain’s armband after the appointed skipper, Beyers de Villiers, was forced into an early retirement from the sport following a serious concussion injury.

“The guys have been working hard as I am sure Tuks have been too, but I feel that the team who wants it more on Monday will take it,” says Barry.

“We are like family, the boys have formed a strong bond with each other and this I feel will give us that edge we need to pull it off.”

Tuks captain, Chris Massyn is confident that the two-time champions can topple the visitors come Monday. The Public Management student accepts that talent won’t be enough to win the match.

“This is what we have been building towards all season, wanting to make it into the final,” says Massyn.

“We have been working hard all season and the fact that we topped the log after the regular season means nothing in the playoffs.

“This is all that matters, to go out, make our family and supporters proud and to enjoy the game we all love.”

These two teams have dominated nearly every facet of the game throughout the competition. Tuks have scored 50 tries while their opposition from Stellenbosch have dotted down 45 times.

However, on defence, Tuks have missed an average of 11 tackles per game and with the visitors’ potent midfield combination of Michel Haznar and Chris Smit the home side will have to drastically reduce this number.

Pote Human’s men will undoubtedly rely on their set pieces, which have been their strength in securing quality ball possession.

Teams:

Tuks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Divan Rossouw, 12 Joshua Stander, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Tinus De Beer, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Chris Massyn (c), 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 Bryan Leitch, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Els Corniel, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Jaco Holtzhausen, 18 Marius Verwey, 19 Eduan Lubbe, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Toko Maebane, 22 Keanan van Wyk, 22 Franco van den Berg

Maties: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Chris (Barend) Smit, 11 Craig Barry (c), 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Brendon Nell, 8 Devon Nash, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Niel Oelofse, 2 Craig Corbett, 1 Wesley Adonis. Replacements: 16 HJ (Hendrik) Luus, 17 Ricky Ngwabara, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Ruben De Villiers, 20 Stephan Streicher, 21 Remu Malan, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Duncan Saal.