PREVIEW: VARSITY CUP, ROUND SIX
Maties and Shimlas are locked on points at the top of the table and are only separated by points difference and a win for either side would make them the clear favourites to top the standings at the end of the round robin phase.
Both sides are coming off the back of victories and head into the encounter high on confidence.
The round gets underway with an interesting tussle in Pretoria where UP-Tuks take on basement dwellers CUT-Ixias. Tuks are expected to claim a bonus-point victory to keep the pressure on the top two teams but CUT cannot be written off.
CUT will have a point to prove that they can compete with any side and will be a tough test for the Pretoria students.
In Johannesburg, UJ are on cloud nine after picking up back-to-back victories and will be licking their lips at the prospect of making it three in a row. In their way though is an inconsistent NMMU-Madibaz outfit who have failed to kick on after their opening round victory.
The Port Elizabeth students enjoyed a week off in the previous round and will be coming out fresh on Monday.
The other game of the round sees fourth-placed NWU-Pukke play hosts to Wits. Pukke are reeling after their defeat to Shimlas in the previous round while could not live up to expectations in their defeat to Tuks.
Wits have been eyed to be the dark horse of the competition but have not lived up to that billing just yet, so they will be out to claim a massive victory.
UCT-Ikeys take a much-needed rest this round.
All the Round Six fixtures!
UP-Tuks v CUT-Ixias
(Pretoria, Kick-off: 16.45, 14.45 GMT)
Teams:
UP-Tuks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Divan Rossouw, 12 Joshua Stander, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Tinus De Beer, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Jsuan-Re Swanepoel, 7 Chris Massyn (Captain), 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Brian Leitch, 4 Aston Fortuin, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Theuns Reynolds, 17 Jaco Holtzhausen, 18 Marius Verwey, 19 Denzel Hill, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Keanan Van Wyk, 22 Willem Strydom, 23 Franco Van Den Berg.
CUT: 15 Ruan Wasserman, 14 Tsitetso Madonsela, 13 Waldo Putter, 12 Johan Nel (captain), 11 Olwethu Ndakisa, 10 Martin Jacobs, 9 Ruben Heymans, 8 Stefan Kruger, 7 Vincent Maruping, 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Andre Venter, 4 Kian Skippers, 3 Henco Smit, 2 Stefan Jacobs, 1 Kabous Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 Lambert Rautenbach, 17 Jean Volkwyn, 18 Kyle Ess, 19 Brendan Verster, 20 Dian Dry, 21 Dean Jacobs, 22 Gert Cronje, 23 Mosego Toolo.
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Willie Vos
NMMU-Madibaz v UJ
(Johannesburg, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
Teams:
UJ: 15 Ewan Adams, 14 Peter John Walters, 13 Aphiwe Dyanty, 12 Jaco Fourie, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 Divan Nel, 9 Johan Esterhuizen, 8 Leon Massyn, 7 Adrian Bester, 6 Wian Conradie, 5 Reinhaardt Nothnagel, 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 Jo Hanko De Villiers, 20 Siyabonga Luwaca, 21 Devon Mare, 22 Johann Vermaak, 23 Carlisle Jordan.
Madibaz: 15 Lindelwu Zungu, 14 Athenkozi Mayinje, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Ivan-John Du Preez, 10 Thomas Kean, 9 Rouche Nel, 8 Kevin Kaba (Captain), 7 Henry Brown, 6 Stephanus Nieuwoudt, 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Wynand Grassmann, 3 Nicholas Oosthuizen, 2 Jean-Pierre Jamieson, 1 Xandre Vos.
Replacements: 16 Jedwyn Harty, 17 Thembelihle Yase, 18 Nicolas Roebeck, 19 Ryeno Du Toit, 20 Justin Hollis, 21 Lovu Claassen, 22 Simon Bolze, 23 Jixie Molapo.
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Local
NWU-Pukke v Wits
(Potchefstroom, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
Teams:
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, 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.
Wits: 15 Luxolo Ntsepe, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Brandan Hewitt, 11 Joshua Jarvis, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Jethro De Lange, 7 Conor Brockschmidt, 6 Constant Beckerling, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 CJ Greeff.
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Brandon Palmer, 18 Pascal Snyman, 19 Michael Renwick, 20 Karl Erasmus, 21 Manuel Rass, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Ameer Williams.
Referee: Vusi Msibi
Assistant referees: Local
Shimlas v Maties
(Bloemfontein, Kick-off: 19.00, 17.00 GMT)
Teams:
Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Carel Wynand Coetzee, 12 Lihleli Xoli, 11 Marco Mason, 10 Stephan Janse Van Rensburg, 9 Armand Pretorius, 8 Nardus Erasmus, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Raymond Woest, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Francois Steyn, 1 Johan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Anrich Alberts, 17 Abram Venter, 18 Kwenzokuhle Blose, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Musa Mahlasela, 21 Dian Badenhorst, 22 Rayhaan Lombaard, 23 Wilandre Kotzenberg.
Maties: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Kyle Steyn, 12 Chris (Barend) Smit, 11 Edwill Van Der Merwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Brendon Nell, 8 Devon Nash, 7 Kobus Van Dyk, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst Van Rhyn, 3 Jacobus Van Der Merwe, 2 Craig Corbett, 1 Niel Oelofse.
Replacements: 16 Hendrik Luus, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Saud Abrahams, 20 Stephan Streicher, 21 Paul De Wet, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Michal Haznar.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: JJ Wagner
Varsity Shield
Walter Sisulu return to action this week after having a break in the previous round and will be focussed on maintaining their 100 percent record in their debut season. They play hosts to CPUT, who are coming off the back of a massive victory over UKZN in the previous round.
UKZN have not lived up to expectations and find themselves second-from-bottom. Despite being at home, they will have a tough task ahead of them as log leaders UWC will be targeting maximum points from the encounter to keep their noses ahead of WSU.
The final fixture of the round sees third-placed Fort Hare take on basement dwellers TUT. Fort Hare are coming off the back of an easy victory over Rhodes, while TUT suffered a defeat to UWC.
Rhodes will have a bye week this time.
Fixtures
Fort Hare v TUT
(Alice, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
Teams:
UFH: 15 Wilfred Bowers, 14 Zayne Farmers, 13 Batshise Luyolo, 12 Somila Jho, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Jeandre Christian, 9 Qhama Masiza, 8 Sibusiso Sutyebu, 7 Thulani Njenje, 6 Zanocolo Qwele, 5 Philisani Ncoko, 4 Athenkosi Makeleni, 3 Bulelani Mdodana, 2 Mkhonto Caku-Caku, 1 Sivuyile Mdishwa.
Replacements: 16 Litha Magocoba, 17 Lixhanti Tame, 18 Siphosethu Tsotsa, 19 Leon Ndlovu, 20 Lindokuhle Kenene, 21 Xolela Daniels, 22 Siphuxolo Zaula, 23 Asiphe Fanele.
TUT: 15 Bongani Zwane, 14 Tshepo Nyathi, 13 Chestwin Gaffley, 12 Litha Vumisa, 11 Arno Brits, 10 Shawn Jaards, 9 Bongani Phangisa, 8 Francois De Villiers, 7 Mpho Kganakga, 6 Mandla Mdaka, 5 William Thomson, 4 Claude Johannes, 3 Reginald Standers, 2 Stanley Modjadji, 1 JJ Nelson.
Replacements: 16 Dalton Dreyer, 17 Shadow Ndlala, 18 Mulauba Mukendi, 19 Lungelo Xulu, 20 Viagian Groenewald, 21 Jan Van der Merwe, 22 Mfundo Gumede, 23 Bongani Mtshali.
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistant referees: Local
WSU v CPUT
(Mthatha, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
WSU: 15 Zizipho Kayi, 14 Khanyiso Roloma, 13 Ludwe Jack, 12 Luzuko Mafu, 11 Ntando Mfengu, 10 Sinegugu Lituka, 9 Minenhle Ngidi, 8 Xolani Mbombo, 7 Lubabalo Lento, 6 Mihlali Qoma, 5 Athenkosi Khethani, 4 Mihlali Mosi, 3 Sinesipho Puzi, 2 Siyamthanda Sineko, 1 Sandile Buthelezi.
Replacements: 16 Masixole Gubeni, 17 Nkosinathi Hulana, 18 Luyolo Fata, 19 Siphosihle Magawu, 20 Phuzukuvela Sithole, 21 Lusanda Xakwana, 22 Khwezi Zinto, 23 Luvo Matiwane.
CPUT: TBC
Referee: Mpho Matsaung
Assistant referees: Local
UKZN-Impi v UWC
(Durban, Kick-off: 18.30, 16.30 GMT)
UKZN: 15 Thobekani Buthelezi,14 Branwin Julius, 13 Michael Sibiya, 12 Paki Mosiek, 11 Wandile Shabangu, 10 Ruan Kotze, 9 Willem Bardenhorst, 8 Sikhulile Sokhela, 7 Jean-Pierre Stopforth, 6 Nduduzo Sithole, 5 Donovan Magu, 4 Mpumalanga Monareng, 3 Clive Musasiwa, 2 Mathew Mandioma, 1 Ntandoyenkosi Mpofana.
Replacements: 16 Rameon Daniels, 17 Melusi Mthabela, 18 Lindokuhle Radebe, 19 Okuhle Mbewu, 20 Sphephelo Mabuza, 21 Sibonakaliso Dubazane, 22 Lungelo Dlamini, 23 Mongezi Masoek.
UWC: 15 Daniel Bock, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Michaine Fick, 12 Hendrik Carstens, 11 Andre Manuel, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Adrian Paarwater, 7 Shaine Orderson, 6 Dean Van Tonder, 5 Curtley Thomas, 4 Brandon Valentyn, 3 Justin Theys, 2 Ralph Jansen, 1 Mzo Buthelezi.
Replacements: 16 Ismaeel Schroeder, 17 Nathan Cloete, 18 Matthew Le Roux, 19 Alwyn Carstens, 20 Clayton Daniels, 21 Roderick Moses, 22 Keagan Fortune, 23 Bradley Jumaats.
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistant referees: Local
By Tauriq Ebrahim
@Tauriq365
@rugby365com
