Tuks will need a massive effort to overcome Ikeys in Round 3 of the 2025 FNB Varsity Cup on Monday, 3 March, in Cape Town.

The last time these two sides clashed at this venue, Ikeys dominated with a 42-19 victory. This time, two key factors could make things even tougher for Tuks. Firstly, Ikeys are coming off a narrow 23-19 loss to CUT, putting them in a precarious position. Another defeat could seriously hurt their semifinal hopes, so expect them to come out firing on all cylinders.

The one thing everyone talks about when they face Ikeys on their home field is the wind. It happens all too often that the wind, with its unpredictable changes in direction, has a massive impact on the game's outcome. 

Tuks outside center Christiaan Vlok, one of the few men in the Tuks team who knows what it feels like to hold the Varsity Cup aloft, believes it would be a mistake to fixate on the wind.

"I see the match against Ikeys as an opportunity. The challenge for us as a team is to make it count. The eyes are definitely on Tuks now after we won two matches in a row," said Vlok, who played for North West in 2023 when they won the Varsity Tournament.

Vlok plays center, and for him, whether he plays inside or outside doesn't matter. What matters is that he plays.

"I played inside the center for the Noordwes Eagles and the Leopards, but I play on the outside for the Tuks. What's nice about playing as an inside center is that you are part of the game. The playmaker. I like to be a tactical link between the forwards and the backs. As an outside center, you can run with the ball more freely. 

My best quality as a center is my work rate. I am relentless for 80 minutes. The Springbok center Jesse Kriel, who also played for Tuks, is my role model."

Vlok praises his parents for the role they are playing in his life. 

"My parents taught me that it is possible to overcome any challenge. My father always says that all that matters is that you do your part and trust in God. If you do that, your studies will go well, you will play good rugby, and you will succeed in every other aspect of life. My mother taught me to always look for the good in people and to treat people with respect.