In sports, it is often said that the infamous "Fat Lady" must sing one last time before any result can be considered final.

When looking at the performances of Tuks' young team, there seems to be truth in the saying. Halfway through the competition, Tuks' Young Guns appeared non-existent. The team lost three times in a row: first against the NWU Eagles, then Maties, and finally, against Wits in the 2025 FNB Varsity Young Guns edition.

But then again, there is the magical Tuks tradition of playing for the "Stripes." Just ask any player. When any player pulls on the coveted Tuks jersey, he is not playing for himself or personal glory. It is all about playing for your teammates, the team, and most importantly, for the honour of the University of Pretoria.

This explains the motivation for the Tuks Young Guns' fightback effort in the competition. In the last two weeks, the team has beaten NWU Eagles 31-26 and Maties 47-26 on Monday. With these two victories, Tuks is again a strong contender to play in the semifinals. They only have to deal with Wits on Monday.

"Our coach, Allan Souter, made us understand early this year that the players who wore the Tuks jersey before us made sure that they left it in a good place for us and that we must do the same for the next group of players who will play for Tuks' Young Guns," is how Ighnatius Jantjies explains the fightback effort.

"The main reason we were not playing to our full potential at the start of the tournament was because quite a few of us were new to the Tuks way of doing things. We needed to learn to trust in each other's abilities and to understand the role each of us had to play in the team. We have now gelled as a team. It gives us the confidence to go for the goal we set at the start of the season. That is to contest the Varsity Cup semifinals. We can get the better of Wits on Monday, but it would be foolish to underestimate them. That is why I keep reminding my teammates it is all about taking it one step at a time'," said Jantjies, who plays scrumhalf.

Asked what he considers his best traits, Jantjies immediately replied that he likes to run with the ball. 

"That is why Joshua Dampies and I gel well as a halfback combination. We actually complement each other's way of play. Joshua is a more tactical player. His whole focus is to put the team on the front foot. Once we are on the attack, I will run with the ball.

"I am also quite good on defence despite being one of the smaller players on the field. But then again, playing rugby is not about size but about having a heart. When confronted by one of the "Big Oke" with the ball in hand, I go low and go for the legs. My dad always said, No player can run without legs."