PREVIEW: VARSITY CUP, ROUND NINE
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With the final FNB Varsity Cup semifinal place yet to be confirmed, and pride – for those out of contention – still to play for, Round 9 is set to be action-packed.
FNB UCT IKEY TIGERS VS FNB CUT IXIAS
(UCT Rugby Fields – Kick-off: 16:45)
Despite their sixth- and seventh-placings respectively, both FNB UCT Ikey Tigers and FNB CUT Ixias still have a chance of reaching the semifinals so this should be an intriguing clash.
A victory for either could still count for nothing should FNB UFS Shimlas win to hold onto their fourth place, but both sets of players will want to do their part of the bargain first.
History between these two teams has UCT winning three of the four previous Varsity Cup clashes, including both at their ‘Green Mile’ – which they will be eager to impress at considering they’ve had four fixtures in a row away. Christiaan Esterhuizen’s charges also didn’t win any of those fixtures so motivation should be sky-high.
It will be much the same for CUT, who have already bettered their previous best win total for a season with their three to date; but will be desperate to create a bit more history by finishing higher than the 6th they did in 2016 – if not a maiden semifinal since their promotion in 2015.
Teams:
FNB UCT Ikey Tigers: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 James Tedder, 12 Robert Ball, 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Jonathan Bredell, 9 William Rose, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (capt), 6Cornelius Otto, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Devon Arendse
Replacements: 16 Joshua van Vuuren, 17 Tomasz de Rosenworth, 18 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Busanda Mabena, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Liam Furniss, 23 Gerard Pieterse
FNB CUT Ixias: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Dimitrio Tieties, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Marnu van Niekerk, 11 Erasmus Breedt, 10 Heinrich Bitzi, 9 Johannes Hattingh, 8 André Hanekom, 7 Gerhardus Nel, 6 Ruan Smit, 5 Rayno Nel (capt), 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Tebogo Masemola, 2 Anrich Alberts, 1 Edward Davids
Replacements: 16 Ruben Cross, 17 Quintin Vorster, 18 Hendrik Smit, 19 Brendon Fortuin, 20 Luvuyo Ndevu, 21 Jaco Wilkinson, 22 Marc Morrison, 23 Karabo Maqeba
FNB UJ VS FNB UFS SHIMLAS
(UJ Stadium – Kick-off: 18:30)
FNB UJ have not had the kind of season they would have wanted after three consecutive years in the playoffs and that alone should make FNB UFS Shimlas wary.
The visitors to UJ Stadium have been in fourth place since Round 5, but three subsequent losses has not been the form of a playoff team – which is why they won’t be in a semifinal place when this match kicks off.
For their part, UJ can’t better their current eighth place. However, a second win in front of their home supporters will at least give them a buffer between them and FNB UWC – considering this season’s log will be consolidated with next season’s to determine relegation.
An intriguing fact, which Shimlas coach Hendro Scholtz might like the sound of, is that while both teams have won five times (with a draw in 2013), both have won three times away.
Teams:
FNB UJ: 15 Shaun Williams, 14 Odwa Nkunjana, 13 Tyreeq February, 12 Wynand Botha, 11 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 10 Mashudu Raphunga, 9 Jack Hart, 8 Edwin Jansen, 7 Adriaan Bester (captain), 6 Dian Schoonees, 5 Khanya Ncusane, 4 Tyler Brown, 3 Coenrad Vrey, 2 Willem du Plessis, 1 Pierre Rabie
Replacements: 16 Lehlohonolo Mphuthi, 17 Kayden Kiewiet, 18 Sibusiso Lali, 19 Jacobus ‘Henro’ Liebenberg, 20 André Meyer, 21 Johan Esterhuizen, 22 Siphesihle Radebe, 23 Musawenkosi Tshabalala
FNB UFS Shimlas: 15 Ruan Henning, 14 Charl Pretorius, 13 Kurt Eybers, 12 William Eybers, 11 Marthinus Boshoff, 10 Lubabalo Dobela (capt), 9 Zinedene Booysen, 8 Albertus de Bod, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi, 6 Jan ‘Bakkies’ Rossouw, 5 Sibabalo Qoma, 4 Nathan Jordan, 3 Cornelis ‘Ruan’ Kramer, 2 Willen Marais, 1 Thembinkosi Mangwana
Replacements: 16 Christian Wijburg, 17 John Henry Fincham, 18 Mogau Mabokela, 19 Henk Pretorius, 20 Olehile Losaba, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Sechaba Matsoele, 23 Christiaan Schutte
FNB MATIES VS FNB UWC
(Danie Craven Stadium – Kick-off: 18:30)
The unbeaten table-toppers against the debutants at the bottom can only end in one result, right?
Even so, there will be plenty for both FNB Maties coach Hawies Fourie and his counterpart,
Chester Williams, to gauge from this clash – as was the case in preseason when Fourie’s boys won 71-12 in Bellville.
This time around, Maties will look to fine-tune whatever weaknesses they think they might have going into to playoffs. Not least because last time they played at their Danie Craven Stadium against a team they were expected to steamroller – FNB UJ in Round 6 – they had to fightback from a second-half deficit.
UWC, though, would pull off the biggest upset in Varsity Cup history were they to win on Monday.
As such, their success should be measured by getting on the scoreboard when they get chances to, defending determinedly and staying disciplined.
Teams:
FNB Maties: 15 Edwill van der Merwe, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Mike Mavovana, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Stephan Streicher, 7 BJ Dixon, 6 Christiaan Massyn, 5 Johannes Momsen (capt), 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Piet Strauss, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Leon Lyons, 19 Jesse Johnson, 20 Johann van Niekerk, 21 Logan Boonzaaier, 22 Adriaan van der Bank, 23 Anton du Toit
FNB UWC: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Rohaan Adams, 13 Lubelo Scott, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 André Manuel, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Adrian Paarwater (captain), 7 Reece Bocks, 6 Bronlee Mouries, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Matthew le Roux, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Luvo Bazi
Replacements: 16 Luan du Randt, 17 Alexander Mbete, 18 Tyler Gessler, 19 Hendrik Carstens, 20 Luke Cyster, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Darren Jaftha, 23 Hendrick Calitz
FNB NWU PUKKE VS FNB WITS
(Fanie du Toit Sports Ground – Kick-off: 19:00)
Of all the teams still hoping to sneak into the semifinals, FNB Wits have by far the toughest task.
Their opponents FNB NWU Pukke sealed their semifinal place last week by thrashing FNB CUT
Ixias and will not want to lose the momentum gained from that. Even more so because this is their final home game of this Varsity Cup campaign – unless they beat UP-Tuks in the semifinal and Maties somehow lose their’s.
Wits, of course, won’t concern themselves with Pukke’s future ifs and buts – they have their own. If they win, their points tally goes to 20 (or 21 with a try-bonus point) above FNB UFS Shimlas… but if the Free Staters win their clash, Wits efforts at Fanie du Toit sports ground will all have been for
nought.
Teams:
FNB NWU Pukke: 15 Chuiner van Rooyen, 14 Lungelo Gosa, 13 Lincoln Daniels, 12 Evardi Boshoff, 11 AP van Niekerk, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Edmund Rheeder, 7 Wian Conradie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Jan du Plooy, 4 Johannes Retief, 3 Matimu Manganyi, 2 Louis ‘Chucky’ van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Tshegofatso ‘Botter; Moloto
Replacements: 16 Marius Stander, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Reuben du Plooy, 20 Muziwandile Mazibuko, 21 Eugene Hare, 22 Keagan Tait/AK Nela, 23 Nkululeko Mcuma
FNB Wits: 15 Jared Fuller, 14 Daniel Kapepula, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 AJ van Blerk, 11 Moemisi Mosheledi, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Runaldo Pedro, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Phillip Krause, 6 Constant Beckerling (captain), 5 Kevin du Randt, 4 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Bhekisa Shongwe
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Luyolo Qinela, 18 Ebot Buma, 19 Pascal Snyman, 20 Sipho
Siboza, 21 Ruan Cloete, 22 Kurt Webster, 23 Yanga Hlalu
