Making bold predictions about the possible outcome of sports games is risky because there is a 50% chance of getting it wrong. 

The 2024 FNB Varsity Shield: Round 6 match between Tuks and TUT is one to watch as Pretoria East faces Pretoria West. It is safe to say that Tuks will retain their unbeaten record. If the previous Varsity Cup stats are considered, Tuks will win by more than 20 points. The score could likely be 40–22. 

The last time the two teams clashed in a Varsity tournament was in 2012. Tuks won 40-0. Tuks has so far won four of the five encounters. TUT only got the better of Tuks in 2011, when they won 46-34. Since 2013, TUT has played in the Shield Tournament. A highlight was when they got to contest the 2018 semifinals. In comparison, Tuks has won the Varsity Cup on five occasions. 

Tuks are the Shield log leaders with 25 points after five games. Madibaz is the only other unbeaten team. They are second with 24 points. Varsity College is third on the log with 20 points, followed by WSU with 10 points. TUT has only one victory to its name so far. 

Impressively, Tuks has scored 40 tries so far and only conceded 6. Edwin Till is the top try scorer. He has dotted down six times so far. He scored four in the game against UKZN. The co-captain, Ethan Burger, has four tries to his name, while Bayanda Ngubane and Marco Venter scored three. JP Wentzel has so far converted 24 tries and has succeeded with one penalty. 

According to Burger, the best is yet to come. 

"What excites me as we are heading into the business end of the competition is that everyone's focus and hunger are still there to go out on Friday night and give their all. We have said that we don't want to take anything for granted, and we don't want to be comfortable with where we are and what we have done so far because we still have a job to do, and that is to get promoted and win the Varsity Shield."

On being asked about the special moments of the Tuks campaign, Burger said, "Every chance to be out there on the field and play for the stripe is an honour and a privilege, and it's one that you don't take lightly. Every time I get to run out onto that field, it is a special moment for me because all of the Tuks legends and people who have played before us and will play after us are playing for the Tuks legacy. So, for me, that's special."

The captain hesitates to single out any of his teammates's on-field heroics. 

"I could name everyone on our team and say a lot about what they have done, and it's fantastic to say that because it shows that we are a team that plays together for each other, and everyone contributes. But off the top of my head, JP Wentzel has been excellent at controlling the game at 10. He's got a fantastic boot on him.

"Another one is Marco Venter. He had two Player That Rocks performances in consecutive weeks. With the ball in hand and in defence, he's been a monster for us and brings us exactly what you expect from a number 8. He's been having a great season so far. But again, I'll return to what I said; the team has been doing well, and through the team and trusting the system, individuals will shine."

Kick-off is at 19:00 at Tuks Stadium on April 5.

The TuksWomensRugby team will start their Varsity Cup Women campaign in Stellenbosch, where they will play the defending champions, Maties. Kick-off is at 16:30.