Preview: Varsity Shield, Round 10
The match between UWC and Wits is a semifinal. Win and you are in the final to face UKZN-Impi. Lose and your tournament is done.
As it stands, Wits occupy second place on 27 points and UWC are third on 24 points. Just three points separates the sides and a draw is good enough for Wits. However, it highly doubtful that they would aim to simply draw the match.
In their previous encounter, Wits ran riot to beat UWC 42-2, however, the Cape students have grown since then and are playing a very attractive brand of rugby. To make it tougher for Wits, UWC are coming off the back of a rest while Wits played TUT in Round Nine.
Wits will have plenty of confidence though as they thumped Fort Hare 64-13. In their Round Eight match against TUT, UWC walked away with a 41-16 victory that kept them in touch with UKZN and Wits.
The final match of the round-robin phase sees TUT and Fort Hare duke it out to avoid finishing in last place. Although Fort Hare have already beaten TUT, the Pretoria side is ahead of them on the log after Fort Hare were docked two points for a breach of the rules.
We look at all Monday's action!
Monday, March 28
UWC v Wits
(Soccer City, Johannesburg; Kick-off: 11.00 CAT)
Teams:
UWC: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Minenhle Mthethwa, 13 Dean Herbert, 12 Lubabalo Faleni, 11 Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Matthew Faught, 7 Matthew le Roux, 6 Philbrey Joseph, 5 Brandon Valentyn, 4 Jose Julies, 3 Tahriq Allen, 2 Peter Wanjiru, 1 Kelvin de Bruyn.
Replacements: 16 Keenan Douw, 17 Wayron Losper, 18 Jeremy Papier, 19 Sabelo Dlamini, 20 Jason Marcus, 21 Courtney Cupido, 22 Marcus Kleinbooi, 23 Robin Paulse.
Wits: 15 Luxolo Ntsepe, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Joshua Jarvis, 12 Wade Worthington, 11 Sicelo Champion, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Constant Beckerling, 7 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt, 6 Ruan MacDonald, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Cecil Conradie, 1 Tijde Visser.
Replacements: 16 Craig Hume, 17 Ayabulela Mdudi, 18 Mitchell Fraser, 19 Richard Crossman, 20 Kyle Wesemann, 21 Adriaan van Blerk, 22 Thato Marubela, 23 Brandon Palmer.
Referee: Jaco Pretorius
TUT-Vikings v Fort Hare
(Soccer City, Johannesburg; Kick-off: 13.00 CAT)
Teams:
TUT-Vikings: 15 Mfundo Gumede, 14 Chestwin Gaffley, 13 Ian Truter, 12 Dumsani Mthethwa, 11 Tshepo Nyathi, 10 Shaun Jaards, 9 Kurt Mackay, 8 Claude Johannes, 7 George Letshuma, 6 Dalingcebo Maduna, 5 William Thompson, 4 Cory van Rooyen, 3 Armand Marshall, 2 Christo Lategan, 1 Stanley Modjadji.
Replacements: 16 Schalk van Niekerk, 17 JJ Nelson, 18 Francois de Villiers, 19 DK Mukendi, 20 Lisa Banzi, 21 Frankie Abrahams, 22 Litha Vumisa, 23 Kevin Ngonyama.
Fort Hare: 15 Sibongile Novuka, 14 Akhona Matutu, 13 Luyolo Batshise, 12 Athiphila Mlotywa, 11 Asiphe Fihla, 10 Siviwe Bisset, 9 Qhama Masiza, 8 Malusi Vula, 7 Sibusiso Sityebi, 6 Zanoxolo Qwele, 5 Ncoko Philisani, 4 Athenkosi Makeleni, 3 Bulelani Mdodana, 2 Mzingabantu Vitsha, 1 Lwando Mabenge.
Replacements: 16 Lulamile Kama, 17 Olwethu Mputla Lusindiso Nkomo, 18 Hendri Storm, 19 Siphosethu Tsotsa, 20 Alandre Sias, 21 Siphuxolo Zaula, 22 Luyolo Batshise, 23 Asiphe Fanele.
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
