Hard road for Ikeys and Pukke

 

Defending champions UCT travel to Bloemfontein to face the unbeaten UFS-Shimlas and 

NWU-Pukke take on the table-topping UP-Tuks in Pretoria.

 

The Ikeys and NWU-Pukke both won home semifinals last year, before going on to contest the epic final in Potchefstroom which saw UCT launch an incredible late comeback to clinch their second title.

 

This year they both had to work hard last week for their place in the play-offs, with UCT grinding out an 8-0 win over UJ on the Green Mile and NWU-Pukke's two bonus points in a losing cause against UFS-Shimlas enough to book semifinal spots.

 

It will be a first-ever home semifinal for UFS-Shimlas, who are the only team that did not lose in the round robin phase of the competition, and they should be confident against a UCT side that they beat 44-24 at Shimla Park in Round Six.

 

However, UFS-Shimlas coach and former Springbok utility back Franco Smith knows that his team cannot afford to underestimate the Ikeys after their heroics in last year's final.

 

"I think they must be one of the more difficult sides in the competition, they have got that never-say-die attitude. They are the champs and they would definitely like to prove their worth," he said.

 

Two-time champions UP-Tuks have only lost one game this year, which was against their semifinal opponents NWU-Pukke who beat them 42-37 in an absolute thriller in Potchefstroom back in Round Four.

 

The nominees for the Player that Rocks award have been announced, along with the Forward and Back that Rocks and the Varsity Shield awards.

 

UP-Tuks skipper Wiaan Liebenberg, young NMMU flank CJ Velleman and NWU-Pukke fullback Rhyno Smith are the contenders to be named Player that Rocks.

 

The Forwards that Rock nominees are all openside flanks, with Velleman joined by Maties' Beyers de Villiers and UCT's Jason Klaasen while in the backs it is between Smith, UFS-Shimlas captain AJ Coertzen and UCT flyer Lihleli Xoli.

 

The Varsity Cup play-offs will see the traditional rugby posts replaced with the American National Football League (NFL)-style posts.

 

In the final round of the Varsity Shield there will be something riding on both games with hosts UKZN and and UWC both bidding to join Wits in the final next week.

 

The UKZN Impi are just one log point ahead of UWC and take on Fort Hare at Howard College in Durban, while UWC are up against Wits in Bellville.

 

There is just one Varsity Young Guns clash left before the final between defending champions UFS and UP-Tuks in Bloemfontein next week, with UJ hosting the Junior Maties in Johannesburg looking to end the season on a high. 

 

In the Koshuisrugby Championship Steinhoff there are three teams fighting for the right to join Vishuis in the final, with both games set to have an influence on which sides gets through.

 

Mopanie are in pole position ahead of their trip to Johannesburg to face Bastion who could also sneak through, while Patria need a win over Cobras in Potchefstroom to put themselves in the mix.

 

 

 

UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen (captain), 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 JP Coetzee, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Boela Venter, 4 Johan van der Hoogt, 3 Conraad Van Vuuren, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Elandre Hugget, 17 Theunis Nieuwoudt, 18 De Wet Kruger, 19 Henco Venter, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 Maphutha Dolo, 22 Refuoe Rampete, 23 Dolph Botha.

 

UCT: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Guy Schwikkard, 11 Dylan Sage, 10 Warren Seals, 9 Ryan Dugmore, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (captain), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Kyle Whyte, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.

Replacements: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Luke Stringer, 20 Stephen Wallace, 21 Nicholas Holton, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 David Maasch.

 

Referees: Lesego Legoete, Jaco Pretorius

Assistant referees: Local

TMO: JJ Wagner

 

 

UP-Tuks: 15 Riaan Britz, 14 Damian van Wyk, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 John Jackson, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Rudolph Smith, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Jan Enslin, 1 Justin Forwood.

Replacements: 16 Jan Van der Merwe, 17 Nqobisizwe, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Hein Viljoen, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 Adrian Maebane, 23 Dayan van der Westhuizen.

 

NWU-Pukke: 15 Johannes Briers, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Juandre Williams, 10 Rhyno Smith, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Armandt Liebenberg, 5 Daniel Jordaan, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Johan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Walt Steenkamp, 19 Moletsi Bouwer, 20 Malherbe Swart, 21 Johnny Welthagen, 22 Bouke Tack, 23 Cayle Denner.

 

Referees: Rodney Boneparte, Francois Pretorius

Assistant referees: Local

TMO: Willie Vos