Bertie Jacobs

Oh my goodness, it is going to be a very close call. On Monday evening, 4 April the Eagles kept their playoff hopes alive in a sopping wet Bloemfontein by beating the CUT Ixias by 33–14.

This was a fitting gift to coach André Pretorius, who coached the Eagles in his fiftieth game. His two former Springbok teammates and fellow World Cup winners, Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar, handed over the team jerseys.

This victory was good, because the Eagles were in dire need of any gesture to bribe fate. With one game against Wits at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds on Monday evening, 11 April left, the Eagles can still reach the semi-finals. But, BUT, then a win is non-negotiable and UJ will have to beat Tuks.

The Eagles are currently in the fifth place on the overall log with 24 points. Tuks is fourth with 25 points and UJ sixth, also with 24 points. The Eagles and Tuks both have five victories, while UJ has four marks under their belt.

But let us go back to the battle with CUT. The weather definitely did not make for spectacular rugby and both teams had to lean on their forwards. Marvelous Mashimbyi scored the Eagles’ first try, after which the Ixias hit back with two loose maul tries. Wing Keenan Twigg, scrumhalf Sylvester Hassien and eighth man André Fouché all scored in the second half to ensure the final outcome. Martin Venter was responsible for four conversions.  

André Fouché was once again named the Player that Rocks. He is having a phenomenal season. It will be interesting to see whether he will continue his level of play later this year in one of coach Jimmy Stonehouse’s Puma jerseys.