Preview: Varsity Cup, Round Seven
All eyes will be fixed on the massive clash in Bloemfontein between third-placed Shimlas and second-placed UP-Tuks. A bonus point victory for either side will see them join Maties on 24 points. Victory for Shimlas will see them occupy second place while a Tuks win ensures them top spot.
Tuks are coming off the back of a mammoth 100-0 victory over CUT-Ixias while Shimlas suffered a 12-58 defeat at the hands of Maties in the previous round.
The round kicks off in Cape Town where UCT-Ikeys play hosts to the high-flying UJ. The hosts will head into the encounter off the back of a bye week while UJ are on a three-match unbeaten run. Victory for the visitors will see them climb one spot to third – should the Shimlas v Tuks game not end in a draw.
UCT, on the other hand, will want to give their home fans something to shout about in an otherwise inconsistent campaign – having claimed two victories from their five matches.
There is a second match taking place in Bloemfontein as defending champions NWU-Pukke look to bounce back from a recent run of bad form when they go up against basement-dwellers CUT. Pukke's poor run of form has seen them drop down the table into fifth place, three points off fourth-placed UJ.
CUT would want to show their fans that they are a much better side than the one who got trampled by Tuks in the previous round.
The round comes to an end in Johannesburg where the surprise package Wits host NMMU-Madibaz. Wits claimed the massive scalp of Pukke in the previous round while the Madibaz went down to UJ.
Victory for Wits will see them remain in touch with the top four sides and have a chance to claim a semi-final spot while the Madibaz will want to prove they are a lot better than their current position of eighth.
All the Round Seven action!
UCT-Ikeys v UJ
(Green Mile, Kick-off: 16.45, 14.45 GMT)
UCT-Ikeys: 15 Gerard Pieterse, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 Joel Smith, 12 Hendrik Lategan, 11 Seb Roodt, 10 Rob Anderson, 9 Stefano de Gouveia, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 6 Sanele Malwane, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Replacements: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 William Day, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19, Jason Klaasen, 20 Luke Stringer, 21 Michael Henning, 22 Suwilanji Chibale, 23 Jez MacIntyre.
UJ: 15 Ewan Adams, 14Ronald Brown, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Jaco Fourie, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 Divan Nel, 9 Johan Esterhuizen, 8 Jo Hanko De Villiers, 7 Wian Conradie, 6 Gavin Delport, 5 Adrian Bester, 4 Kevin Du Randt, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (captain), 1 Waldo Weideman.
Replacements: 16 Le Roux Baard, 17 Kyle Kruger, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Reinhardt Nothnagel, 20 Leon Massyn, 21 Devon Mare, 22 Carlisle Jordan, 23 Peter Walters.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
Shimlas v UP-Tuks
(Shimlas Stadium, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Motsoela, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Stephan Janse Van Rensburg, 11 Marco Mason, 10 Henco Posthumus, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Nardus Erasmus, 7 Wilandre Kotzenberg, 6 Benji Janse van Vuuren, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Francois Steyn, 1 Kwenzokuhle Blose.
Replacements: 16 Anrich Alberts, 17 Johan Kotze, 18 Thabiso Msiza, 19 Rohan Roelofse, 20 Musa Mahlasela, 21 Armand Pretorius, 22 Carel Coetzee, 23 Phumzile Maqondwana.
UP-Tuks: TBC
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Local
CUT-Ixias v NWU-Pukke
(CUT Stadium, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
CUT: 15 Ruan Wasserman, 14 Mosego Toolo, 13 Gert Cronje, 12 Johan Nel (captain), 11 Olwethu Ndakisa, 10 Martin Jacobs, 9 Ruben Heymans, 8 Dean Rossouw, 7 Vincent Maruping, 6 Dian Dry, 5 Brendan Verster, 4 Kian Skippers, 3 Chrisjan du Toit, 2 Henco Smit, 1 Kabous Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 Stefan Jacobs, 17 Francois du Toit, 18 Kyle Ess, 19 Andre Venter, 20 Stefan Kruger, 21 Dean Jacobs, 22 Waldo Putter, 23 Sylvester Makakole.
NWU-Pukke: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Jimmy Mpailane, 13 Elden Schoeman, 12 Jacob Pienaar, 11 Lungelo Gosa, 10 Julian Delicado, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Wandile Mazibuko, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 Morné Strydom, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Rudolph van Deventer.
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Dewald Dekker, 18 Matimu Manganyi, 19 Jan Venter, 20 Marcel Henn, 21 Caleb Louw, 22 Nkululeko Mcuma, 23 Dean Stokes.
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Local
Wits v NMMU-Madibaz
(Wits Stadium, Kick-off: 19.00, 17.00 GMT)
Wits: 15 Luxolo Ntsepe, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Brandan Hewitt, 11 Joshua Jarvis, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Jethro De Lange, 7 Conor Brockschmidt, 6 Constant Beckerling (captain), 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams.
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Brandon Palmer, 18 Pascal Snyman, 19 Michael Renwick, 20 Karl Erasmus, 21 Manuel Rass, 22 AJ van Blerk, 23 CJ Greeff.
Madibaz: 15 Lindelwe Zungu, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Ivan-John Du Preez, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Jixie Molapo, 10 Thomas Kean, 9 Lovu Claassen, 8 Kevin Kaba (Captain), 7 Justin Hollis, 6 Henry Brown, 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Wynand Grassmann, 3 Nicholas Oosthuizen, 2 Jean-Pierre Jamieson, 1 Xandre Vos.
Replacements: 16 Jedwyn Harty, 17 Tembelihle Yase, 18 Nicolas Roebeck, 19 Ryeno Du Toit, 20 Hayden Tharrat, 21 Davron Cameron, 22 Simon Bolze, 23 Siphumelele Msutwana.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Johan Greeff
Varsity Shield
With current log leaders UWC enjoying a bye week, the door is open for Fort Hare to become to top the table, if they manage to overcome CPUT in Wellington. The Cape side are currently third on the log in their debut season, nine points behind Fort Hare.
Fort Hare has the momentum though as they are coming off the back of a victory over TUT while CPUT suffered a narrow victory at the hands of Walter Sisulu University.
Walter Sisulu, who seemed to be the run away team in the competition, bounced back from being docked 10 points for a rules violation to take fifth place on the log. In fact, their only defeats in the competition came as a result of those results docked points.
They travel to Grahamstown to face basement dwellers Rhodes. Victory for the Mthatha outfit could see them climb the table.
The final match of the round sees TUT host UKZN in Pretoria. Neither side have been able to string results together and their performances have been far from their best. Nevertheless, it should be an intriguing match as the sides are separated by just four points – UKZN currently occupy fourth place while TUT are down in sixth.
TUT vs UKZN
(TUT Stadium, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30)
TUT: 15 Viagian Groenewald, 14 Tshepo Nyathi, 13 Chestwin Gaffley, 12 Litha Vumisa, 11 Arno Brits, 10 Shawn Jaards, 9 Jan Van der Merwe, 8 Claude Johannes, 7 Mpho Kganakga, 6 Mulauba Mukendi, 5 William Thomson, 4 Anre O'Neil, 3 Reginald Standers, 2 Dalton Dreyer, 1 Shadow Ndlala.
Replacements: 16 Lungelo Xulu, 17 JJ Nelson, 18 Mandla Mdaka, 19 Francois de Villiers, 20 Gerrit Meiring, 21 Bongani Phangisa, 22 Bongani Zwane, 23 Mpumelelo Solomons.
UKZN: 15 Thobekani Buthelezi, 14 Wandile Shabangu, 13 Michael Sibiya, 12 Paki Mosiek, 11 Branwin Julius, 10 Ruan Kotze, 9 Sibonakaliso Dubazane, 8 Sikhulile Sokhela, 7 Jean-Pierre Stopforth, 6 Kwezi Puza, 5 Mpumalanga Monareng, 4 Sphephelo Mabuza, 3 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana (captain), 2 Mathew Mandioma, 1 Lindokuhle Radebe.
Replacements: 16 Rameon Daniels, 17 Melusi Mthabela, 18 Clive Musasiwa, 19 Donovan Magu, 20 Nduduzo Sithole, 21 Langelihle Sithole, 22 Lungelo Dlamini, 23 Mongezi Masoek.
Referee: Pieter Maritz
Assistant referees: Local
Rhodes vs Walter Sisulu University
(Grahamstown, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30)
Rhodes: 15 Daniel Coughlan, 14 Cian Waugh, 13 Keagan Deponselle, 12 Ryan Horne, 11 Nic Butler, 10 Mike Steel, 9 Yalusa Nodada, 8 Devon Barnard, 7 Owethu Mkolo, 6 Jonathan Braans, 5 Joshua Parsons, 4 Jesse Rich, 3 Chris Whiting, 2 Uzu Nyanda, 1 Mwambu Njolomba.
Replacements: 16 Chulu Jack, 17 Lukhanyo Tshongweni, 18 Lwandile Mkosana, 19 Jethro Anderson, 20 Leandre Vos, 21 Zuko Zote, 22 Thabiso Sithole, 23 Zusiphe Bulani.
WSU: 15 Zizipho Kayi, 14 Khwezi Zinto, 13 Ludwe Jack, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11 Ntando Mfengu, 10 Sinegugu Lituka, 9 Minenhle Ngidi, 8 Xolani Mbombo, 7 Lubabalo Lento, 6 Mihlali Qoma, 5 Mihlali Mosi, 4 Athenkosi Khethani, 3 Sinesipho Puzi, 2 Masixole Gubeni, 1 Siyamthanda Sineko.
Replacements: 16 Phuzukuvela Sithole, 17 Nkosinathi Hulana, 18 Luyolo Fata, 19 Siphosihle Magawu, 20 Chumani Mjacu, 21 Lusanda Xakwana, 22 Luzuko Mafu, 23 Athenkosi Ndzenene.
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant referees: Local
CPUT vs Fort Hare
(Wellington, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30)
CPUT: TBC
UFH: TBC
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant referees: Local
