Tuks may have suffered their first defeat of the 2025 FNB Varsity Cup season against Ikeys on Monday, 3 March, in Cape Town, but the two bonus points they earned could prove crucial in the race for the playoffs.

Ikeys secured a 36-29 victory, leaving Maties as the only unbeaten team, topping the log with 15 points after three matches. Shimlas and Tuks both sit on 12 points, having lost once each. Ikeys, with 10 points, is also in the mix, having suffered just one defeat. Notably, both Shimlas and Tuks have scored four bonus points, making up for their losses.

The Ikeys-Tuks showdown was a thriller from the start. Ikeys struck early, scoring a converted try straight from kickoff to take a 9-0 lead. Within seven minutes, they were up 12-0. But Tuks fought back, closing the gap to 26-22 by halftime, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.

Tuks head coach Dewey Swartbooi said afterwards that Tuks came to Cape Town to win. After all, that's what Varsity Cup rugby is all about.

"Unfortunately, things didn't work out the way they should have. At least Tuks earned two bonus points. In a tournament like this, bonus points are crucial."

Asked what he considered the turning point of the match, Swartbooi replied, "We started playing catchup rugby too early. We can only blame ourselves. There were soft moments, and they cost us dearly. I know of at least three times where we let Ikeys off the hook. Ikeys also exploited some of our mistakes to score."

After last week's match against UJ, Swartbooi was concerned about his team's performance in the lineouts.

"Our lineout play was better yesterday against Ikeys, but we are not firing on all cylinders yet. There is still a lot of work to be done. It happens too often at critical times that we do not execute what we have practised."

Swartbooi also worries about mistakes being made when Tuks is on the attack.

"In the match's dying moments, we were awarded a penalty kick, but the ball was not kicked out. One of the basic principles of rugby is that when you go to the touchline from a penalty kick, you must kick the ball out."

But it's not all doom and gloom. Swartbooi is very impressed with how "Dominee" and Dillion Smith (captain) played.

"MJ Nel may be an unknown in Tuks rugby. But yesterday against Ikeys, he was a pillar of strength in the scrums as a loosehead. He is growing with every match. His nickname is "Dominee" because he studies theology.

"As captain, Dillon is "Yster'. It's as if he can't play a bad game. He led by example from the first minute.

"I also have to single out David Engongo, who played lock. Against Ikeys, he had to stand in for Roald Hattingh. Those are big shoes to fill. But David, who can still play for the Young Guns, looked like a seasoned Tuks first-team player."