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Blues coach Chase Morison is demanding fire in the bellies of his charges when they face Swallows in the grand final of the inaugural Brutten Cup on Saturday.

More specifically, he is asking the Fort Hare-15 to fight fire with fire upfront while exercising extreme focus and discipline.

“We haven’t come this far just to come this far,” the university’s inspirational mentor said ahead of their historic clash at Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium.

“This is the biggest challenge we’ve had and we’re willing to take it on.”

Few would have bet on the Blues making the playoffs – let alone the final – at the start of the season. But such has been their rise in recent months that most would agree that their title shot is thoroughly deserved.

Their defensive effort in their 15-6 semifinal victory against Young Leopards last weekend was one for the ages.

Their opponents, whom, statistically, are the best attacking team in the Border Rugby Union Top Ten Cup, were camping out on their line time and time again without being able to breach the whitewash.

This display of sheer resilience was something Morison had talked about at the start of his tenure as Fort Hare mentor earlier this year.

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Fort Hare Blues hooker Bunono Jamani will add plenty of power to the front row as they come up against Swallows in the Brutten Cup final on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications

“One of my first games [as head coach] was a warm-up against Police. I didn’t know the players and management all that well, but the very first thing I said to the team was, ‘Today you will be judged on your defensive ability’.

“That’s been a theme for us and slowly but surely we are starting to pick the fruits of that. Defence has become part of our identity.”

Equally impressively, UFH’s backs are peaking at just the right time. Their creative flair was responsible for both of their side’s tries in the semifinal.

Morison said it was clear that his backs had become more confident in taking the ball out wide despite not being the biggest and fastest in the competition.

While it was special for the Blues to play in the final, he warned that there was absolutely no room for complacency against a team like Swallows.

“They have an incredibly strong forward pack. Their game is centred around their set-pieces and we are very set-piece-focused as well, so it’s about fighting fire with fire up front.

“We know they are going to come hard, especially in the forwards.”

He believed that whoever won the set-piece battle would have the best chance of coming out on top.

The coach was also very aware that Swallows had a formidable flyhalf in Ntabeni Dukisa.

He has played Currie Cup rugby for the Border Bulldogs, Griffons, EP Kings and Griquas and turned out for the SA Barbarians against England during their tour of South Africa in 2012.

“He (Dukisa) has played at the highest level. Our discipline will be so important because he can kick three points from anywhere,” Morison said.

“What is interesting is that Swallows boast six or seven ex-Fort Hare players, so it’s pretty much going to be the old guard versus the new. It will be a huge game that will come down to the little things.”