Never-say-die Shimlas set to storm Maties fortress

Yesterday at 03:15 AM

SPOTLIGHT: Shimlas coach André Tredoux says his charges are relishing their underdog status ahead of another Varsity Cup semifinal showdown with Maties.

It's been a challenging season for the defending champions, who only managed to win four of their seven fixtures across the Varsity Cup league stage.

Thanks to a 48-35 win against Tuks in Pretoria on Monday, Shimlas finished fourth in the standings - just one log point ahead of the NWU Eagles.

The Free State outfit will head into the playoffs as underdogs despite its success in last year's competition.

The odds are against a Shimlas win in Stellenbosch next week, but if they manage to beat Maties, they will head to Pretoria or Cape Town for the decider - depending on the result of the other semi-final between Tuks and UCT.

Tredoux and his charges have some reason to feel confident, given the quality of their recent performance against Tuks.

"Tuks are a quality side with a powerful pack," Tredoux told @Rugby365com.

"50% of their tries have come from the maul - we knew that we would have to neutralise that to have a chance of coming away with the result.

"It wasn't easy, but credit to the boys for executing on the night. [Forwards coach] Tiaan Liebenberg also deserves credit for gearing them up for that massive challenge."

Tredoux freely admits that Shimlas aren't the same side that won the title last season.

While it's taken some time for the younger players to settle into their new roles, the team appears to be hitting its stride at the right time.

"We lost 17 out of the 23 players who featured in the final last year. So from the start of the season, the challenge was consistency, especially in the department of game management.

"It's taken some time, but we've started to see that execution coming through in the last few matches.

"We've been under a lot of pressure, yet we've managed to pull through.

"The win against Tuks was satisfying, but I have to mention the way we played against Ikeys in the previous game.

"Time was running out, and we needed three tries to improve our situation on the log, and stay in the race for the playoffs.

"The boys showed terrific character on the Green Mile, and then it all came together in the next game against Tuks."

Shimlas edged UCT in the final staged in Bloemfontein last season.

Afterward, UCT coach Tom Dawson-Squibb admitted that the Ikeys' extensive travel schedule may have contributed to the result.

Shimlas find themselves on the other side of that equation this year, having played their last three league matches away from home.

If all goes to plan in Stellenbosch next Monday, they will travel to Cape Town or Pretoria the following week for the decider.

Tredoux said that the team views the schedule in a positive light.

"We came close in the away match against Maties in the first round, we had our moments away at the Eagles, and we fought back well against the Ikeys in Cape Town.

"More recently, we went one better against Tuks in Pretoria.

"I don't think the fact that we'll be on the road [for the semifinals and a potential final] will count against us.

"It's a tough ask against Maties at the Danie Craven, but it can be done, if you remember that we won the semi-final at the same venue last year.

"We've made a lot of great memories already, and we're looking forward to making a few more in Stellenbosch next week."