At last, Ikeys rejoin the race
UCT will, finally, return to WP Super League action – when they host National Club champions, Hamilton’s, at the Green Mile on Saturday (kick-off 4pm).
The Varsity Cup runners-up had an up-and-down first half of the league season – a highlight being their 21-12 away win over Hamilton’s in early May – but they will need to regroup quickly after a long varsity vacation due to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
It’s been a tough fourteen days for new UCT head coach Kevin Foote, as he set about ‘rebuilding’ a squad without the likes of Matt Rosslee (Griquas) and JJ Gagiano (Mighty Kings), both of whom are playing Currie Cup rugby.
Stalwart scrumhalf Stu Commins is now playing for Northampton Saints in the UK and injured stars Therlow Pietersen, Marcel Brache and JP Robert are still unavailable; not to mention a bunch of other players who are still on holiday or who had – or have – study commitments during the holidays.
Of course, compounding Foote’s woes at present are the various provincial call-ups; centre Tim Whitehead, lock Martin Muller and flanker Yaya Hartzenberg are all on Currie Cup duty with Western Province, whilst Nic Groom and Nick Köster are campaigning for the WP Under-21 side. (Centre Mark Esterhuizen is also currently training with the SA Sevens squad.)
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Foote admitted: “We have to be honest with ourselves – the guys are not 100 percent ready.
“We are not as fit as we would like to be, or as prepared, for various reasons, but that fact is not something we are wasting too much energy on at this stage,” he added. “We had a solid two weeks’ practice and, as true Ikey Tigers, are ready in spirit… (and) that’s good enough for now.”
Youngsters Ricky Rijs (fullback) and Scotty Watermeyer (scrumhalf) are new faces in the UCT starting line-up.
However, the likes of Ash Wells, Hanyani Shimange and Dylan Rogers will provide a powerful platform up front – backed up by Varsity Cup regulars Nick Fenton-Wells (who will captain the team) and Don Armand (on the flank), and locks Levi Odendaal and Mike Ledwidge.
* Meanwhile, UCT’s Varsity Cup rivals (and multiple winners!), the Maties, will travel to ‘The Track’ on Saturday afternoon to take on SK Walmers, whilst Victorians – their second XV – will host Durb-Bell at Coetzenberg, also on Saturday.
The FNB UCT team: 15 Ricky Rijs, 14 Paul Cohen, 13 André Coetzer, 12 Adrian Kritzinger, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Tiger Bax, 9 Scott Watermeyer, 8 Jody Burch, 7 Nick Fenton-Wells (captain), 6 Don Armand, 5 Levi Odendaal, 4 Mike Ledwidge, 3 Dylan Rogers, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 Ashley Wells.
Replacements (from): Page, Kemp, Heiberg, Manuel, R Jans, Panya, Hendricks, Bailes, Winters.
By James Kingston (with thanks to uctrfc.co.za)
