Not all were popular decisions, but necessary to do away with a comfort zone and making form and not reputation the only way in and also out of the team.

Since losing Police (35-34), Tuks registered good wins against Centurion, the 2009 Super 16 champion, and Silver Valke on Saturday, 18 April (47-20).

Tuks head coach Freddie Grobler said on Monday he is impressed with the improvement made in the last two matches.

“We came a point where we had no other choice than to start sticking with players who still have the hunger to play for Tuks, many of them young and inexperienced. There still a lot of coaching to do, but at least we played with traditional Tuks pride and passion in our last two games,” said Grobler.

Tuks’ tries against Silver Valke were scored by Fanie Booysen, Pieter Gothan, Danie Faasen (2), Erich van der Westhuizen and Devin Oosthuizen (2). Stanley Twiname added the rest of the points with six conversions.

„R Other Tuks results (Saturday, 18 April):
Carlton II: Fezelas bt Silver Valke 46-19; Carlton III: Silver Valke bt Tuks-Pumas 22-15; Carlton IV: Tuks-Renegades bt Silver Valke 36-0; u.21A: Tuks-Jongspan bt Silver Valke 95-10; Tuks A bt Harlequins 55-3; u.19A: Tuks A bt Tuks-Fezelas 35-0; Tuks B bt TUT A 32-17.