CPT derby kicks off Varsity Cup
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The Varsity Cup returns to action on Monday with a big Cape Town derby headlining the first round of matches.
The second round of the Varsity Shield will also have two fixtures to look forward to.
The first match sees Pukke take on Madibaz in Potchefstroom, followed by Shimlas against Tuks in Bloemfontein at.
Newly promoted CUT will make their bow on their home turf when they face UJ, but it's the final match of the day that will pique everyone's interest.
Defending champions UCT Ikeys and Maties go toe-to-toe at the University of Cape Town Rugby fields in Monday final match.
It’s one of the biggest derbies in South African sport and Duitser Bosman, CEO of Varsity Sports, is delighted that the competition kicks off with such a big match.
“To start the season with such a massive derby sets the tone for what we have to look forward to this year.
"With the new innovations in place this season and the quality of the players in the competition, I believe this will be one of the best seasons of the Varsity Cup yet,” Bosman says.
This year’s competition will see the return of the White Card, endorsed by the South African Rugby Union, as well as the continuation of the two referees which was a massive success last season.This season will also see the introduction of the defensive scrumhalf, as Varsity Cup continues to stay at the forefront of sporting innovation.
The white card, which allows coaches and captains to refer decisions for review to television match officials during games, was first introduced during the inaugural Varsity Cup competition in 2008 and will now be tested once again.
The defensive scrumhalf is a simple change in rules where the scrumhalf defending the scrum will not be allowed to pass the mouth of the scrum once the ball has been inserted.
In other words, the defending scrumhalf will not be allowed to follow the ball.
Varsity Cup hopes that this rule will encourage a running rugby style of play and diminish the breakdowns at the scrum.
Founder of the competition, former Springboks captain Francois Pienaar, believes that this year will be even bigger and better than last year.
“This year is a very exciting year for Varsity Cup Rugby. The return of the White Card presents us with a unique opportunity to trial something that we could one day see used in international rugby.
Sport cannot afford to stagnate in this day and age and it is important that it evolves with the players in mind. The White Card is there to ensure the correct decision is always made,” said Pienaar.
In Varsity Shield Action, UKZN Impi currently lead the log after a valuable away win against UWC in the season opener and will look to continue their strong start when they host TUT in Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
With TUT also winning their first match of the season last week, it’s bound to be a thrilling encounter.
Elsewhere, Fort Hare will take on Wits at the Davidson Rugby Stadium in Alice and the Eastern Cape side will be eager to bounce back in their opening fixture after losing to TUT last week.
For Wits, for whom this is their first match of the season, this is an opportunity to make a statement.
Varsity Round One:
Monday, February 9
NWU-Pukke v NMMU
(Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom – Kick-off: 16.45; 14.45 GMT)
Teams:
NMMU: 15 Jarryd Buys, 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Devon Lailivaux, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Yamkela Ngam, 10 Ruan Allerston, 9 Daniel Acker, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Wynand Grassmann, 6 Cyril- John Velleman, 5 Tyler Paul, 4 Robert Louw, 3 Steven Robbeson, 2 Dane Van Der Westhuyzen, 1 Arno Ebersohn.
Replacements: 16 Warrick Venter, 17 Brenden Olivier,18 Rudolph Odendaal, 19 Ivan Du Preez, 20 Ivan Ludick, 21 Steven Hansel, 22 Brain Skosana, 23 Marzuk Maarman.
NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Daniel Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Marno Redelinghuys, 19 Molotsi Bouwer, 20 Kurshwill Williams, 21 Warren Gilbert, 22 Heinrich Smith, 23 Cayle Denner.
Referees: Quinton Immelman, Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Local
UFS-Shimlas v UP-Tuks(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18.30; 16.30 GMT)
Teams:
UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Pieter-Steyn De Wet, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Niel Claassen, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Hennie-Schalk Theron.
Replacements: 16 Jacques Du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Boela Venter, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 Niel Marais, 22 JP Coetzee, 23 Conraad Van Vuuren.
UP-Tuks: 15 Riaan Britz, 14 Duncan Matthews, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Jan Enslin, 17 Nqobisiswe Mxoli, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 John Jackson, 23 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Referees: Lesego Legoete, Jaco Pretorius
Assistant referees: Local
CUT v UJ(CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18.30; 16.30)
Teams:
CUT: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Luke Cyster, 13 Charles Hitchcock, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Mosego Toolo, 10 Naude Van Biljon, 9 Christiaan Erasmus, 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Dean Kouprihanoff, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Rayno Nel, 4 Daneel Botes, 3 Gerard Baard, 2 Anrich Bitzi, 1 Len Noort.
Replacements: 16 Theuns Truter, 17 Ian Smith, 18 Fanie Coetzer, 19 Victor Maruping, 20 Marius Grobler, 21 Jean-Claude Fourie, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Boetie Makethlo.
UJ: 15 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Andries Oosthuizen, 10 James Campbell, 9 Hilton Mudariki, 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Kyle Van Dalen, 6 Kobus Porter (captain), 5 David Antonites, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Siphatho Qinisile, 1 Gareth Milasinovich.
Replacements: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Brandon Landsberg, 18 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 19 Wiaan Conradie, 20 Chuma Faas, 21 Jaco Fourie, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Raeez Salie.
Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Local
UCT Ikeys v Maties(The Green Mile, UCT – Kick-off : 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
Teams:
Maties: 15 Mike Muller, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Wesley Adonis, 18 Grant Prior, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 John Hubert Meyer.
UCT: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Dylan Sage, 12 Guy Schwikkard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Warren Seals, 9 James Alexander, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (captain), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tinotenda Zakeyo, 20 Ryan Dugmore, 21 Nicholas Holton, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Kyle Whyte
Referees: Francois Pretorius, Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
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