After bursting onto the scene and taking the FNB Varsity Shield by storm, FNB Varsity College will enjoy the upcoming rest period before they reconvene for a crucial clash with the FNB Madibaz in Gqeberha on 5 April.
The Comets have been the surprise package of the season and have lost just one match from their opening five in the tournament to sit in third on the overall table. With the Madibaz just four points ahead of them in second, next Friday’s clash has a lot riding on it.
With just two rounds of round-robin action to go until the playoffs, the Comets will be eying a home semifinal and a win in the Friendly City next week will go a long way towards booking that all-important spot in the top two.
It’s been an unrelenting period of rugby for the players who have played five matches in five weeks, for FNB Varsity College head coach Jeremy McLaren, the break couldn’t have come soon enough.
“I think this break is coming at the right time for us, you can see the players are tired and the match against Tuks really took it out of us,” McLaren said. “We showed some real character to bounce back against CPUT last week and score six tries.
“When you lose a game like we did in Pretoria you can stop believing but the boys didn’t let go and put in another good performance.”
PLAYERS GRABBING THEIR OPPORTUNITY
With such an intense schedule of matches, McLaren was always going to have to test the depth of the squad at some stage and he’s happy that he’s been able to give other players a chance to show what they can offer.
“A few new players got an opportunity last week and did really well which is important for us with such a big run into the playoffs.
“The hunger in the squad is what’s carrying us because everyone wants to get an opportunity.
“There still players that haven’t even got a chance and we would love to give everyone a run at some stage, but the guys that came in against CPUT did really well,” the coach added.
Two matches remain for the Comets to secure a home semi-final because their spot in the last four is secure. McLaren knows that the intensity won’t let up.
“The Madibaz are second on the log and Walter Sisulu are a well-drilled side, so it definitely doesn’t get easier for us.
“We’ve got that spot in the final four sewn up but now the works starts to try and make sure that our semi-final will be here in Durban,” McLaren stated.
The IIE’s Varsity College will now play both of their final two round-robin matches away from home in the Eastern Cape.
Next Friday they face the FNB Madibaz in Gqeberha and then they travel to Mdantsane outside East London to take on the FNB WSU All Blacks the following Thursday, 11 April.