[imagesource: YouTube / SuperSport]

How are the heads today, Tukkies fans?

I guess I could ask the same question to those who were backing Maties in last night’s Varsity Cup final.

The massive Stellenbosch crowd watched their team storm to a convincing 23-10 lead with half an hour to play. Tuks weren’t going to roll over, though, and fought their way back into contention as the clock ticked towards 80 minutes.

And then, the controversial ending that will long be debated around dining halls and braais across South Africa.

Sport24 reports:

…in the 78th minute, indomitable fullback Stefan Coetzee broke through almost half a dozen tackles with his lanky legs before off-loading to his brilliant scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde for the match-clinching score.

To add to the drama, Coetzee’s pass was referred upstairs to check if it went forward and Maties could probably feel hard done by as Van der Linde’s hands did seem to catch the ball at a compromising angle.

TMO Egon Seconds ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.

Egon, I’d steer clear of showing my face around Stellies for a while.

Let’s start with the full highlights:

But really, you came here to see that pass.

Make your own mind up after watching the video clip below:

Forward pass – Yes ✅or No ❌ ? pic.twitter.com/0JN14ZpGK5

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) April 25, 2022

It probably doesn’t help that both commentators call it a forward pass.

The man who mattered most didn’t, and the rest is history.

Too soon?

This one is for @jwcoetzee pic.twitter.com/oZ3ULGeeX1

— Adrian Slabbert (@adrian_slabbert) April 25, 2022

It may have been a touch fortunate, but you can’t begrudge Tuks their fifth Varsity Cup win, which draws them level with Maties as the most successful side in the competition’s history.

🏆 Behold…your 2022 FNB Varsity Cup champions 🏆@TuksSport go back-to-back and successfully defend their title to be crowned five times champions. Congratulations to the stripe generation! #RugbyThatRocks proudly brought to you by @FNBSA and @SteersSA pic.twitter.com/GgcRK44wei

— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 25, 2022

[source:sport24]