Final game 'incentive' for NMMU
FNB NMMU might be down following their heavy 3-58 defeat to the mighty Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup competition earlier this week, but they are certainly by no means out.
The was the message sent out by coach Kolie Brandt this week as his team prepared for their final league match of 2009 against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) at the NMMU campus on Monday (March 16) evening.
“We took a huge knock against the Maties and they taught us several good lessons,” he told varsitycup.co.za.
“Hopefully the players have taken it to heart and they will show against UJ what they really can achieve when the chips are down,” Brandt said after Wednesday’s training session.
Brandt believes the standard of rugby has improved tremendously since the inception of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International competition.
“We were involved in the (promotion/relegation) play-offs at the end of last season to retain our place in this wonderful competition. This we did and to date this season we have beaten TUT, which gives us a slight edge over them in terms of the log position,” he added.
“However, we realise that we must leave nothing to chance and we are hoping to get something out of the clash against UJ as to ensure we do not finish up at the bottom again this season.
“We are currently on four points and TUT have one. They play the Shimlas on Monday and victory for them will give them a chance of moving ahead of us if they collect the four points.
“This is a major incentive for the players going into Monday’s encounter,” Brandt concluded.
Brandt, meanwhile, has made just one change to the ‘Madibas’ team for next Monday’s meeting with UJ.
Hooker Allistair Langson will start in the No.2 shirt, with Shaun Slabbert dropping down to the bench.
Wingers Aluzant Munnik (No.14) and Vuyovelethu ‘Oscher’ Mazaka (No.11) have traded jersey numbers, as have locks Luke Beling (No.5) and Jacques Naude (No.4).
FNB NMMU: 15 Jade Barkhuizen, 14 Aluzant Munnik, 13 Daniel Howitz, 12 Deavon Mellville, 11 Vuyovelethu Mazaka, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Luso Booi, 8 Jaco Swanepoel, 7 André Goosen, 6 Morné van der Westhuizen, 5 Luke Beling, 4 Jacques Naude, 3 Pierre Hammond, 2 Allistair Langson, 1 Tyron Williams.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Slabbert, 17 Frans van der Walt, 18 January Siyabulela, 19 Jan Fourie, 20 Niel Weitz, 21 Wade Roos, 22 Cornelius de Villiers.
Coach: Kolie Brandt
Assistant coach: Werner Barnard
Kick-off: Monday, March 16, 6.45pm, Xerox NMMU Stadium (South Campus)
By Stan Terblanche
