Late changes for UJ, Shimlas and NMMU
Three teams have made late changes to their 23-man matchday squads ahead of today’s Round Two Varsity Cup clashes – the most notable being that of FNB UJ who have drafted in star fullback Earl Lewis from the bench.
Lewis replaces Aubrey MacDonald in the No.15 jersey for their clash against Tukkies in Pretoria (kick-off 6.30pm) – a selection that will no doubt frighten the home side given Lewis’s (pictured, right) wonderful counter-attacking abilities.
In other changes for today’s games, both Shimlas and NMMU – who will meet in Bloemfontein at 6.30pm (this match will be televised live on SuperSport One) – have done some last-minute adjustments.
Hosts Shimlas have brought in Beast Ndwandwa for Divandré Strydom (who scored two tries against UCT last week) on the right-wing and nippy little No.9 Marlin Ruiters swaps between the bench and starting line-up with last season’s captain Jaco Colyn.
NMMU, meanwhile, have swapped jersey numbers in their starting XV – at flank and at lock – and Chariel van Jaarsveld is in for Tyron Williams at loosehead prop. Jade Barkhuizen is a new face on the bench with De Wet Lange dropping out.
Revised Varsity Cup teams for Round Two:
(All changes in bold)
FNB UJ: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Edrich van Tonder, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 André Smith, 9 Danny Botha, 8 Quintin Minnaar, 7 Wendal Wehr, 6 Justin Wheeler, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Martin Lombard, 3 Wayne Swart, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 JP Olivier, 18 David Bulbring, 19 JP Janse van Rensburg, 20 Jacques Pretorius, 21 Ryno Luus, 22 Aubrey MacDonald, 23 Jaco Claassen.
FNB Shimlas: 15 George Whitehead, 14 Beast Ndwandwa, 13 Earl Snyman, 12 Wayne Stevens (captain), 11 Rashied Isaacs, 10 Reinhardt Erwee, 9 Marlin Ruiters, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Hanno Pieterse, 5 Henjo van Niekerk, 4 Joubert Horn, 3 Vaatjie Koorsen, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Ian Potgieter.
Replacements: 16 Gert Erasmus, 17 André Schlechter, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Pieter Labuschagné, 20 Jaco Colyn, 21 Divandré Strydom, 22 Johan van Schalkwyk, 23 James Hellawell.
FNB NMMU: 15 Aluzant Munnik, 14 Oscar Mazaka, 13 William Heydenrych, 12 Wade Roos, 11 Darryl Turner, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Luso Booi (captain), 8 JP Kellerman, 7 Samuel Borsaah, 6 Ferdie Gerber, 5 Mathew Lutge, 4 Jannie Fourie, 3 Pierre Hammand, 2 Hugo Lampbrechts, 1 Chariel van Jaarsveld.
Replacements: 16 Werner Kapp, 17 Chris Dicks, 18 Kemsley Wesso, 19 Ferdinant Gerber, 20 Phiwe Lallendle, 21 Jade Barkhuizen, 22 Hugo van Heerden, 23 Ivan Cowley.
