Big chance for Varsity Cup star
FNB Maties star Lewellyn Winkler has been handed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against the South African training squad XV, after being named on the wing for the Namibian Invitation XV for next Friday’s clash.
Winkler – who was born in Windhoek – will play in a side made up of genuine Namibian players, but also a bunch of current and former Springboks; all of whom should test the South African XV, a side jam-packed with Test Boks.
Twenty-one-year-old Winkler is a hard-running wing-cum-centre and he played off the bench in the 2009 Varsity Cup Final, with Maties edging out Pukke 11-6 to claim their second successive title.
Of course, one of Winkler’s opponents could be his Maties teammate, centre Morgan Newman, who earlier this week was named in the 23-man South African squad – despite having had limited game time for the Stormers during the Super 14.
It is, however, a feather in the cap of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, with yet another of its players selected for higher honours.
Aside from Newman and Winkler’s recent call-ups, UCT youngsters Martin Muller and Tiger Bax made their Super 14 debuts this year, whilst Gert Lubbe (Tuks), Earl Lewis (UJ), Dane Johnson (UCT), Marvin Christians (UCT) and Cameron Peverett (Maties) were all selected for the SA Vipers Sevens squad that played in Tangiers a few weeks ago.
Three other Varsity Cup stars, JJ Gagiano (USA Eagles), Kyle Brown (SA Sevens) and Mat Turner (England Sevens) – all of whom turned out for UCT in 2008, played international rugby after impressing in the first-ever Varsity Cup.
But Gagiano, Brown and Turner were just three out of 74 Varisty Cup players offered various professional playing contracts after last year’s exciting and ground-breaking tournament.
The Namibian Invitation XV: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen*, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga*, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Meyer Bosman*, 11 Llewellyn Winkler, 10 Derick Hougaard*, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Jacques Burger, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 5 Nico Breedt, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 3 Richardt Strauss, 1 Kees Lensing (captain).
Replacements: 16 Hugo Horn, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 Ruan Vermeulen, 19 Anton van Zyl, 20 Wayne Julies*, 21 Jurie van Tonder, 22 Chrysander Botha.
* Denotes capped Springbok player.
