"Operation Comeback" starts tomorrow when the Tuks team plays Maties during the 2023 USSA Rugby 15s Championships in Durban.

Labeling it as a make-or-break match for Tuks might be a bit over the top. The reality, however, is that Tuks must save face after suffering seven consecutive defeats earlier this season in the Varsity Cup Tournament. It has led to Tuks being relegated to the Varsity Shield Tournament. This is undoubtedly one of the most significant setbacks in the history of TuksRugby.

Over the recent weeks in the Carlton Cup tournament, there were signs that Tuks players rediscovered the pride of playing for the "Stripes". In all probability, the team will qualify to play in the semi-finals.

According to the scrumhalf, Chad-Lee Valentine, there is a good reason why he and his teammates started to win again.

"I did not get to play Varsity Cup rugby, but I was part of the squad. I think the main reason we self-destructed was because we forgot why we played rugby. It is for the joy of it. After the Varsity Cup Tournament, we sat down, during which we had a no-holds-barred assessment of our performance.

"The outcome was that we realised that you can't win if you don't enjoy what you do. It has changed everything. We are now again a team where we play all for one and one for all. We also started playing according to our 'DNA.' In other words, we play to our strengths."

Valentine has played twice against Maties. The first was last year's Varsity Cup final, in which Tuks got the better of Maties. But then Tuks lost to Maties during the previous year's USSA Tournament.

"It proves there is never such an easy game when you play against Maties. To win, everyone needs to be at their best."

As a scrumhalf, Valentine favours the running game.

"I am not into box kicks. My best quality is that I bring energy and excitement to a team. In other words, I upped the tempo of the game. It is about creating opportunities that could lead to us scoring tries. Needless to say, Embrose Papier is my role model. We were at the same primary school and have talked rugby ever since."

Interestingly, most of the Tuks backline players learned their first rugby skills in the Western Cape. Valentine credits their adventurous ball traits to the days when they played "touchies" in the streets as youngsters. Nobody wanted to go down on tar, so being fleetfooted was a necessary survival skill.

The official travelling Tuks team:

Props: André van der Merwe, Ethan Burger, Barnard Nortje, Pumi Xego, and MJ Nel. Hookers: Allister Williams, Ruan van Blommenstein Locks: Louis Meiring, JW Mare, Roald Hattingh, and Hlomla Maranene Loose forwards: Divan Venter (captain), Hilton Gie, Juandre Jooste, and Dillon Smith Halfbacks: Chad-Lee Valentine, Nico du Randt, Jayden Sam, and Jandre Burger Inside backs: Lincoln Daniels (vice captain), Zandre Kruger, Keane Gelant, and Odwa Moletsane. Outside backs: Ambesa Zenzile, Tharquin Manuel, Kyle Cyster, and Bayanda Ngubane