It's Intervarsity time in Bloem
If you are driving between Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein on Friday, be on the look-out for busses and cars decorated with shoe polish. Yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s that time of the year again – Intervarsity time!
The Shimlas – who played in their first-ever Varsity Cup semifinal earlier this year – have not pulled any punches in selecting their team for Intervarsity against Potchefstroom University (NWU-Pukke); a huge match for both sides on Saturday.
In fact, they have sprung a big selection surprise by recalling their Varsity Cup captain Wayne Stevens, who is currently part of the EP Kings’ squad in the Currie Cup’s First Division.
This weekend, however, Stevens has returned to Bloemfontein and he will, as he did during the Varsity Cup, lead his team into battle.
Stevens will occupy the Shimlas No.13 shirt; with Barry Goodes – a Super 14 player for the Cheetahs – lining up on his inside in the No.12 position. Both Stevens and Goodes have a great feel for the game and if they gel on Saturday, the home side could be near-unstoppable and wingers Jamba Ulengo and Beast Ndwandwa could see plenty of ball.
Another player boasting Currie Cup experience is tighthead prop Cobus Caldo, who replaces the injured Ian Potgieter (knee injury) in the Shimlas line-up. The scrum – as always – will be an integral part of the game and Caldo’s inclusion could just tip the scales – excuse the pun – in Shimlas’ favour.
Dirk Wessels is the only newcomer in the Shimlas starting XV, having impressed – thus far this season – for the Free State Cheetahs’ Under-21 team.
Wessels’s work-rate around the ruck and tackle area is very high and he could be a valuable asset when it comes to the crucial breakdown area and he will be joined by Willie Brits – another Varsity Cup star – in the No.7 jersey, with Erik le Roux packing down at eighthman.
Le Roux is an exciting player to watch – especially with ball in hand – but he will have the unenviable task of filling the rather large boots of Boom Prinsloo, the 2010 Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament.
The FNB Shimlas team: 15 Robert van Schalkwyk, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Wayne Stevens (captain), 12 Barry Goodes, 11 Beast Ndwandwa, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaco Colyn, 8 Erik le Roux, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Dirk Wessels, 5 Wilken Heyens, 4 Joubert Horn, 3 Kobus Caldo, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Gert Erasmus, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Oupa Mohaje, 20 Marlin Ruiters, 21 Franna du Toit, 22 Karl Eksteen.
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Venue: Shimla Park
By Tian Malherbe