By Amber Steyn
As the men of Maties Rugby kicked off their first home game match at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch University (SU) against the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the crowd had an immense amount of excitement, as well as a sense of confusion surrounding the game – which was what the new point system is and why it was implemented.
According to Rugby365, the new “post-try scoring option” which has been introduced within the Varsity Cup tournament was similar to the American National Football League’s (NFL) points system. This new points system gives the teams an option of whether they want to tap or kick a conversion after they had scored a try. Selecting the tap gives teams the opportunity to add five additional points. During each half, teams are granted two tap options. However, if there are any unused tap options, it will not be carried over to the second half of the game.
Ezekiel Ngobeni, the captain and scrum-half of Maties Rugby, said, “The new points system is [an] exciting innovation and for me it’s just being able to think and apply the tactic in the most effective manner in favour of the team.” Ngobeni also stated that, during their pre-season camp, their coaches made them aware of the new change and that all credit is given to them regarding this change.
Mckyle Volmoer, the scrum-half, stated that the NFL-like style could be considered exciting. He added, “It’s a bit tough […], the fact that there are an extra two minutes, not knowing whether it would work in your favour […].” Regarding the challenges the players faced around this change, Volmoer stated that, for him, the main challenge was about getting it right. “[It] would just be the ability to keep the ball alive and to hold the ball during pass or play and when it’s against you to remain disciplined in defending multiple phases.”
Christiaan van Heerden-Smith, one of Maties two vice-captains, described the new point system as “advantageous”. He added, “It’s always a good way for you to catch up in points if you score a try and then you score [again].” He prefers this new system if it’s beneficial to his team. However, he would not if it causes the opposing team to catch up to them.
Van Heerden-Smith stated, “I’m not sure what the reason was for this change, but Varsity Cup has always been innovative […]. [I]t makes the games exciting to watch.” Regarding challenges for him, he stated, “If you work very hard to score a try and you are extremely tired, then you have to attack against 13 players in the frontline because there’s no kick space [and] it tires you out very fast when you don’t manage it correctly.”
Lastly, Ngobeni added that, when it comes to making a decision, it is one that has to be made quickly. This decision has to be made with a clear state of mind, since you need to make use of the power play at the right time and understand the swing of it.
Lenique Isaacs, a second-year BA (Language and Culture) student stated, “I personally feel like I don’t get the point in bringing in the new system. The previous one was pretty standard, easy to understand and something that we’ve been used to.”
