FNB UFS-Shimlas beat FNB NWU-Pukke 63-33 in an epic final in Bloemfontein on Monday to claim their first FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International title.
The hosts outscored their old rivals by nine tries to four in a breathless match to end the 2015 season unbeaten and hand NWU-Pukke their second consecutive final defeat.
Interestingly enough, this was the first-ever Varsity Cup Final without either UCT or the Maties (the Cape sides having won five titles between them), but both universities were rewarded by having players selected in the inaugural FNB Varsity Cup Dream Team squad.
UCT hooker Chad Solomon and Maties winger JP Lewis were both selected in the starting line-up, with UCT centre/wing Lihleli Xoli named on the bench.
The team was selected by the convenor of Springbok selectors Peter Jooste, Springbok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher, Springbok Performance Analyst Chean Roux and South Africa’s Under-20 coach Dawie Theron. Two veteran rugby journalists, JJ Harmse and Vata Ngobeni, offered their input to ensure the cream of the crop from this year’s Varsity Cup and Shield competitions made the cut.
The FNB Varsity Cup Dream Team is due to play the Junior Springboks later this month.
The Varsity Cup Dream Team: 15 Rhyno Smith (NWU-Pukke), 14 Maphutha Dolo (UFS-Shimlas), 13 Rowayne Beukman (NWU-Pukke), 12 Daniel Kriel (UP-Tuks), 11 Jean-Paul Lewis (Maties), 10 Innocent Radebe (UKZN-Impi), 9 Dillon Smit (NWU-Pukke), 8 Jeandre Rudolph (NWU-Pukke), 7 Henco Venter (UFS-Shimlas), 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (UP-Tuks), 5 Reniel Hugo (captain) (UP-Tuks), 4 Irne Herbst (UP-Tuks), 3 John-Roy Jenkinson (NWU-Pukke), 2 Chad Solomon (UCT-Ikeys), 1 Johan Smit (NWU-Pukke).
Replacements: 16 Nqobisizwe Mxoli (UP-Tuks), 17 Jaco Visagie (UP-Tuks), 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen (UP-Tuks), 19 Walt Steenkamp (NWU-Pukke), 20 Gerhard Olivier (UFS-Shimlas), 21 Mthokozisi Mkhabela (UFS-Shimlas), 22 Johnny Welthagen (NWU-Pukke), 23 Lihleli Xoli (UCT-Ikeys).
Meanwhile, UCT’s Jason Klaasen was rewarded with the 2015 FNB Forward that Rocks Award after yet another stellar campaign for the 2014 champions. Klaasen beat the Maties’ Beyers de Villiers and NMMU Madibaz star CJ Velleman to the award.
AJ Coertzen claimed the FNB Back that Rocks Award ahead of Smith and the Ikeys’ Xoli. Coertzen guided Shimlas to a fairytale campaign after they finished the campaign unbeaten. His elusive running and deadly boot made him one of the standout performers in the Shimlas’ successful season.
There was some consolation for NWU-Pukke, with their star fullback Rhyno Smith crowned the overall FNB Player that Rocks for the 2015 edition of the Varsity Cup.
Smith’s blistering speed, devastating side-step and phenomenal kicking accuracy saw him stand head and shoulders above his competitors in a highly successful season with Pukke. Flank Velleman and FNB UP-Tuks’ powerful captain Wiaan Liebenberg finished runners-up for the main award.
