Armand to captain Ikey Tigers
Varsity Cup regular Don Armand will lead out FNB UCT in their WP Super League encounter against Villager’s at Brookside this evening.
Armand – who has played in three Varsity Cup campaigns for the Ikeys (between 2008 and 2010) – takes over the captaincy from veteran lock Bodo Sieber, with the latter joining regular skipper Nick Fenton-Wells in the sickbay this week.
Twenty-year-old Armand will pack down in the second row with Stormers and Western Province representative Martin Muller; whilst in other changes up front, Enoch Panya (flank) and Dylan Rogers (tighthead prop) return to the starting XV.
In the backline, Marcel Brache moves to fullback as cover for the injured Tiger Bax, with Adrian Kritzinger coming in at inside centre for his first league start for the Ikey Tigers – an exciting selection if ever.
Kritzinger, a former Bishops First XV captain, is a talented centre making his way back to full fitness after a series of injuries.
With all those changes to the UCT starting XV, coaches John Dobson and Kevin Foote have also made some adjustments to their bench, with Varsity Cup players Levi Odendaal, Greg Mallett and Zubayr Abrahams all getting a crack amongst the replacements and second team stalwart André Coetzer coming into the matchday 22.
Hooker Dayne Jans, loose forward JJ Gagiano, halfbacks Stu Commins, JP Robert and Doug Mallett, and fullback Therlow Pietersen are still unavailable because of injury. Backs Sean van Tonder and Pete Haw are on exam leave at present.
The FNB UCT team: 15 Marcel Brache, 14 Paul Cohen, 13 Mark Esterhuizen, 12 Adrian Kritzinger, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Matt Rosslee (vice-captain), 9 Nic Groom, 8 Yaya Hartzenberg, 7 Jody Burch, 6 Enoch Panya, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Don Armand (captain), 3 Dylan Rogers, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 Ashley Wells.
Replacements: 16 Mark Goosen, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Levi Odendaal, 19 Greg Mallett, 20 Sharief Hendricks, 21 André Coetzer, 22 Zubayr Abrahams.
Tonight’s fixtures – UCT v Villager’s (away):
UCT Under-20 A1 v Villager’s U20, Brookside B – 6.35pm
UCT Ish Dramat XV v Villager’s III, Brookside A – 6.35pm
UCT Eagles XV v Villager’s II, Brookside A – 7.45pm
UCT First XV v Villager’s 1, Brookside A – 9pm
By James Kingston
