Thousands of first-year and senior students packed the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Rugby Stadium in Westdene, in support of the Senior Men’s Rugby Team in Round 2 of the FNB Varsity Cup match on home soil on Monday, 26 February 2024. With the UJ cheerleaders’ entertaining dance routines, the Parktown Boys High School brass band, music and the UJ gwijo squad in song, the stadium was filled with a hive of exciting activities for the first time this year.

The heavy rains did not dampen the spirits of the crowd and the FNB UJ team. Despite the pause due to heavy downpours and lightning close by just 14 minutes into the opening half, FNB UJ held the advantage at the weather induced break, leading 5-0 after an impressive play which led to the opening try by Tiaan Wessels.

The two sides had both lost their opening matches in Round 1 of the tournament on Monday, 19 February 2024 in separate matches in Bloemfontein. FNB UJ’s Tiaan Wessels, as mentioned, opened the score with a try in the 8^th minute of the first half, before the FNB UFS responded with a try in the 18^th minute. In the 25^th minute, UJ’s Rowen Malgas’ educated through-pass kick to Prince Nkabinde on the edge of the left flank saw UJ extend their lead through Nkabinde’s try and the subsequent conversion by Malgas to put UJ in the lead (12-5).

The visitors did not hold back. They mauled their way over UJ’s tryline, reducing the deficit to 12-10 just two minutes after UJ’s try. In the 34^th minute, FNB UFS’ hooker, Francisco Dos Reis, crossed for another try for the visitors to put the visitors in the lead for the first time in the first half.

The end-to-end play saw Likhona Finca turn the scoreline in FNB UJ’s favour just 8 minutes into the second half with a try from an excellent run. FNB UJ continued building momentum in the second half. A great interplay of short passes between the Orange Army players in the 56^th minute took FNB UJ to a 26-15 lead with a point of origin (7-point try) by Nkabinde and a conversion by Malgas. In this moment, the jubilant crowd thought UJ was winning the game.

FNB UFS responded with two quick tries in the 59^th and 64^th minutes through a maul past the UJ defense, taking the score to 26-25 with UJ narrowly in the lead. The visitors continued piling pressure on FNB UJ, who had to play the last twenty minutes with 14 players after two yellow cards dished out by the referee, with Siviwe Zondani sneaking in a clever 5-point try for Shimlas in the 72^nd minute and a conversion to take the visitors in the lead. FNB UJ were down to 13 men for 7 minutes as UFS took advantage and went ahead by eight points. FNB UJ scored their last try in the 77^th minute, but it was a tad too late to claim victory on home soil. Final score stood at 34-31 in favour of the FNB UFS Shimlas.

FNB Player that Rocks went to UJ’s Prince Nkabinde for his impressive contribution.

Speaking on scoring several tries for UJ in the two consecutive games, Nkabinde said, “It is a privilege to perform the way I did and I thank the Lord for the opportunity. I am thankful for playing this game and representing my team very well. All the work started from inside, and I’m just a winger who executed to score the two tries. Credit goes to the team’s collective effort.”

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