College Rovers will face the Valke champion club Brakpan in the first of semi-finals at the SAA National Club Rugby Championships in Stellenbosch at 4pm this afternoon and will have their work cut out especially with question marks over the availability of two of their key players Andrew Borgen and Riaan Swanepoel who sustained injuries against Tukkies on Tuesday.

Rovers who were the runners up against all odds in 2006 have once again put up a remarkable showing at this years tournament with Sharks players Chris Jordaan playing at fullback and centre Riaan Swanepoel playing outstanding rugby. Flyhalf Andrew Borgen who made his debut for the Sharks earlier this year was named man of the match in their opening game against Buffaloes, which they won 45-26 while flanker TC Khoza was named man of the match against Tukkies, which they won 25-12, after playing a blinder. The man of the match awards are chosen by the tournament organising committee.

Other standout players for Rovers have been Nick Strauss playing at lock and loose forwards Justin Downey and Mark Els. Coach Ryan Strudwick has also given huge praise to his front rowers Grant King, Zardu ‘Os’ Faul, Siko ‘Snare’ Simelwize and hookers skipper Alistair Schwikkard and Justin Meanwell for standing up to much bigger and heavier opposition. Wing Wesley Bodmer who also made his debut for the Sharks earlier in the season has scored two tries for 10 points with the other main contributors being Borgen with 10 points from the boot and Jordaan having notched up seven points with a try and conversion.

Brakpan beat Free State Cheetahs champion club side CUT Ixias (Free State University of Technology) 18-13. Ixias who surprisingly beat Shimlas in this year’s Free State club league had also hoped to find a way through to the final but it was not to be leaving two open clubs with an opportunity of making it through to the final.

Maties who it must be said seem to have everything laid on for them with state of the art accommodation compared to the rest of the teams together with such easy games in the build up to the semis will meet Pukke in the other semi-final after the students from Potchefstroom edged out the University of Johannesburg 17-11.

- Jos Robson - The Mercury