Nine points are what Tuks's fullback Zander du Plessis need to score to improve on one of long-standing Varsity Cup Tournament records.

If he has got his "kicking boots" on, it could be a mere formality when Tuks takes on Maties in the first Varsity Cup semifinal this afternoon. 

Du Plessis has so far scored 128 points in seven games. The record for most points during the tournament is held by Demetri Catrakilis. His points tally in 2011 playing for UCT is 136. Du Plessis already surpassed Wesley Dunlop's Tuks record of 103 points. 

Tuks's lanky fullback has been averaging 18 points per game so far. Against Madibaz, he scored 28 points. It is the second-most by a Tuks player in a Varsity Cup game. 

Interestingly, Duhan van der Merwe, who will be touring with the British and Irish Team to South Africa, holds the record for most points in a game. The winger scored six tries for Tuks against UCT in 2016 for a tally of 30. He ended the season with ten tries to his name. It is still a Varsity Cup record. Duncan Saal (Maties) equalled his record in 2018, also scoring ten tries. 

Tinus de Beer, who played for Tuks from 2016-2019, is the all-time leading points scorer (230). 

Tuks features quite prominently in most of the Varsity Cup records set since 2008. Their 100-25 victory against UCT in 2016 is the fourth biggest winning margin in a Varsity Cup game. This season they have beaten Madibaz 75-0. 

The 12 tries scored in 2016 against UCT are still combined the second-most in a tournament game. 

Andrew Beerwinkel made 43 Varsity Cup appearances for Tuks. Niel Oelofse, who played 44 games for Maties, is the tournament's most capped player. 

This afternoon Tuks and Maties will clash for the 22nd time in the Varsity Cup Tournament. Maties have been victorious on 13 occasions, with Tuks winning seven. One game ended in a draw. 

The last time Tuks managed to beat Maties was in 2017. Maties won the previous five encounters.

Maties have scored 568 points, and Tuks 497. From a statistics perspective, it means Maties wins on average 27-23. Tuks's most significant victory was in 2015 when they ran amok, winning 53-8. Maties won 64-17 in 2010.

There is, however, one statistic where Tuks has the better of Maties. It is playing finals. Of the four times, the teams clashed in the Varsity Cup-final, Tuks won three.

Tuks and Maties certainly have been dominating since 2008. Maties contested nine of the 12 finals, winning five while Tuks played five finals, winning three. 

The kickoff for this afternoon's Tuks versus Maties semifinal clash at the Tuks Stadium is 17:00. Ikeys and the Northwest Eagles play at 19:15.