The one given in Varsity Cup is that every team will have that one bad game over nine weeks, in which things go wrong. Hopefully, Tuks's defeat against Maties on Monday was that game. 

Maties won beating Tuks 19-9 at Tuks. The two teams got a proud rivalry over decades, but the game will not be remembered for its excellent rugby. It was a scrappy affair. So the referee had no choice but to use his whistle more than he would have wanted.  

Still, it would be unfair to judge the players too harshly. It was both teams' first game of the tournament. So it was to be expected that there would be some jitters. Often it led to players doing things over hastily, which led to mistakes.

It is especially true for the Tuks players. They were their own worst enemies at times, losing concentration at vital moments. 

Tuks captain, Lincoln Daniels, is confident that he and his teammates can perform better.

"From a personal perspective, our clash with Maties was exciting. We expected them to come hard at us, and they did not disappoint. It is never nice being the captain of the losing side, but I think we did OK apart from the score.

"What sunk us tonight (last night) was our execution, especially in the backline. We really tried to keep the ball in hand when we were on the attack. But ever so often, all our hard work got undone by a bad pass", Daniels explained.

FNB Player That Rocks: Juan Beukes (FNB Maties)

FNB Maties – Try: Sean Swart. Conversion: Jurie Mathee. Penalties: Adriaan van der Bank (3), Mathee.

FNB UP-Tuks – Penalties: Jandré Burger (3)

FNB UP-Tuks – 15 Kabelo Mokoena, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Lincoln Daniels (c), 12 Keane Galant, 11 Tharquinn Manuel, 10 Jandré Burger, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Orateng Koikanyang, 6 Divan Venter, 5 Mihlali Stamper, 4 Dawid Meiring, 3 Daniël Wessels, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Andre van der Merwe.

Subs: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Edwin Till, 18 Ethan Burger, 19 Dian Schoonees, 20 Hilton Gie, 21 Ambesa Zenzile, 22 Zandré Kruger, 23 Campwill Willemse.

FNB Maties – 15 Navaldo Fleurs, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 Anton du Toit, 12 Taigh Schoor, 11 Mike Mavovana, 10 Adriaan van der Bank (c), 9 Eduan Smit, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Marco van Rhyn, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Matt Gray, 4 Juan Beukes, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.

Subs: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Wian van Zyl, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Jesse Johnson, 20 Siya Matanda, 21 Mckyle Volmoer, 22 Jurie Mathee, 23 Waqar Solaan

What’s next for Tuks? They will face Madibaz away on 21 February and on 28 February, back at home to clash against their finalist of 2021, UCT Ikeys.

Home tickets and any Tuks merchandise is available on www.upshop.up.ac.za