A first Varsity Shield final since 2021 beckons for Walter Sisulu University All Blacks, should they beat UWC in their semifinal at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Friday (2.30pm).
The ghosts of the final defeat against CPUT five years ago still haunt the institution.
They have come close to getting a chance to erase those memories, but the semifinal stage has been an immovable obstruction for the Eastern Cape varsity in recent years.
They have been in two semis since 2021. They lost to Fort Hare in 2022 and to UP Tuks in 2024.
All Blacks head coach Thembani Mkokeli was there for the 80-14 annihilation by Tuks in Pretoria two years ago.
But that WSU team was going through a transition period which carried over to 2025. They are a different kind of beast now, Mkokeli insists. They are a mature team, and the stats bear witness to that.
In their seven round-robin games this season, the All Blacks only lost once and drew another, winning the remaining five matches.
The scalp of UWC is in their win column, and Mkokeli believes their opponents are still hurting from that. Adding insult to injury, UWC will come to the knockout game on the back of a loss to Wits last week.
By contrast, the All Blacks are coming off a win against rivals Fort Hare in Mdantsane.
“They are still hurting and will come up with a more competitive team than what they showed in our last game,” Mkokeli said.
“We will have to stick to our structures, offensive and defensive,” he said.
The All Blacks’ assistant coach, Phumlani Blaauw, said: “Preparations are going well so far, and it’s also an advantage that we’re not travelling.”
“The mood is cool, calm and collected,” he added, reflecting a team that understands the magnitude of the occasion without being overwhelmed by it.
”We’ve been here many times before, but we still have nothing to show. This semi-final means everything. They are a very well-coached team that should not be underestimated. They can speed up the game or slow it down,” Blaaue concluded.
UWC captain Dantson Cloete stressed the importance of discipline and smart decision-making in the All Blacks game if they are to get their revenge.
“I think the big areas for us will be our physicality and accuracy. Semifinals are always tight, so things like our set piece, discipline, and breakdown work will be crucial,” Cloete said.
“We need to win the small battles, take our chances when they come, and stay switched on for the full 80 minutes. Discipline and decision-making are huge in knockout rugby.
“Small mistakes get punished at this level, so we’ve been focusing on controlling what we can, staying disciplined in contact, making smart choices with ball and territory, and not giving the opposition easy chances,” Cloete said.
“If we get those basics right, it puts us in a strong position to take the game when opportunities come,” he said.
Additional reporting by Varsity Cup and Full Stop Communications
Daily Dispatch
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