Ikey Tigers set for final hurrah
FNB UCT are preparing for Friday evening’s WP Super League clash against Varsity Cup rivals, Stellenbosch, at Groote Schuur.
With head coach John Dobson back from his coaching sojourn in Italy, the Ikeys have assembled a patched up 22-man squad – once again missing a host of players to Provincial call-ups and injuries – ahead of their 2009 league finale.
The likes of Tiger Bax, Dane Johnson, Tim Whitehead, Martin Muller, Dayne Jans – to name just a few – are missing, but veteran lock Bodo Sieber will once lead his determined charges into battle; in a game that is expected to produce plenty of fireworks.
Both the Maties and the Ikeys are assured of finishing second and third, respectively, on the WP Super League standings – regardless of what happens on Friday, which augurs well for an entertaining 80 minutes at the Green Mile.
In some good news for the hosts, hooker Mark Goosen is back to full fitness and powerhouse inside centre Sean van Tonder and nippy scrumhalf JP Robert are also available for selection – but they have a serious shortage at loose forward.
Injuries to Nick Fenton-Wells, Sam Peter, Dane Galley and Kuselo Moyake have robbed coach Dobson of some high-quality performers and the loss of JJ Gagiano (Italy), Jody Burch (SWD Eagles), Enoch Panya (Mighty Elephants) and Kyle Brown and Mpho Mbiyozo (SA Sevens) to greener pastures have not helped either.
Talented Under-20 loose forward Greg Mallett is also unavailable due to injury, prompting stand in head coach Kevin Foote – who has looked after the team in Dobson’s absence in recent weeks – to be selected as UCT’s openside flanker.
Foote, a former SA Sevens skipper, played most of his 15-man rugby at centre, but his experience – especially on the ground – could be telling for the hosts against the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions.
The UCT team (possible): 15 Therlow Pietersen, 14 Marcello Sampson/James Martin/Peter Haw, 13 Dave Edgar, 12 Sean van Tonder, 11 Dave Clayton, 10 Matthew Rosslee (vice-captain), 9 Stu Commins, 8 Craig Kleu, 7 Don Armand, 6 Kevin Foote, 5 Michael Passaportis, 4 Bodo Sieber (captain), 3 Dylan Rogers, 2 Mark Goosen, 1 Ashley Wells.
Replacements: 16 Wes Chetty/Matt Page, 17 Stephen Knoop, 18 Graham Knoop, 20 Doug Mallett, 21 James Martin/Peter Haw, 22 JP Robert.
Friday’s fixtures at UCT (v FNB Maties):
FNB UCT Under-20 A1s v Maties, Groote Schuur A – 6.30pm
FNB UCT Second ‘Eagles’ XV v Maties 2, Groote Schuur B – 6.30pm
FNB UCT Third ‘Ish Dramat’ XV v Maties 3, Groote Schuur B – 7.45pm
FNB UCT First ‘Ikey Tigers’ XV v Maties 1, Groote Schuur A – 7.45pm
