Mokuena set sights on VC double

The defending champions head into the tournament with a new-look side after losing the expertise of Rhyno Smith (Sharks), Sylvian Mahuza (Lions), Lucian Cupido (Leopards) and Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Sharks).

"Losing the likes of Cupido and Smith does play a big part in the squad. Those guys were quite instrumental in our set-up.

"However, at the end of the day, you want to equip your players with confidence where they believe they can do better than those who have left. Experience is a good thing but in the end, it is up to the squad as to who wants it the most.

"In terms of replacing those players, we do have a few youngsters who we worked with coming through, thus we know their strengths and their weaknesses," Mokuena told rugby365.com

This year there is one extra team vying for the prestigious trophy. The return of  Wits has brought with it the unknown. The Johannesburg-based side returns to the Cup division for only their third season and has many regular Cup campaigners looking over their shoulders after their consistent performance in the 2016 Shield.

Pukke and Wits recently locked horns in a warm-up match and the Potchefstroom side really had their work cut out for them.  

"We played a warm-up match against Wits on Friday night, and they really stepped up their game. They pushed us for the full 80 minutes.

"But as a team who won the tournament before, my players realise that every week, the opposition is going to make the 80 minutes as hard and tough as possible. It just reassures us that we need to be on top of our game ever week.

"Our goal is to win the Cup again. We are not going to back down from our structures. We believe we have the game plan to outsmart people. It is now just about my players' willingness to work for each other and believing in the guy next to him," he added.

NWU-Pukke begin their title defence against UJ in Johannesburg on January, 30.

@rugby365.com