Selection shake-up for Shimlas
Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel has re-shuffled his squad significantly for next Monday’s Varsity Cup clash against the University of Johannesburg (UJ), after suffering a consecutive home defeat at Shimla Park this week.
The Shimlas travel to the UJ Stadium for this Round Four FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fixture off the back of a disappointing 5-26 loss to the defending champion Maties.
The Free Staters are currently lying in fifth position on the Varsity Cup log after recording just one win – in the opening round against NMMU.
Captain Jaco Colyn will take on a more pivotal role against the Gauteng outfit, while Marlin Ruiters (who played off the bench against Maties) slots into the No.9 berth.
Llewellyn Adonis switches from wing to fullback, replaced at No.11 by Johan van Niekerk, while Johann Myburgh drops to the bench.
In the pack, Gert Erasmus comes off the bench and will start at hooker, while Roelof Koorsen comes into the matchday squad and will scrum down beside him at loosehead. Philippus Steyn starts in the second row while in the loose, Andre Tredoux gets a starting role.
Shimlas: 15 Llewellyn Adonis, 14 Wouter Stieger, 13 Cameron Jacobs, 12 Niël Jacobs, 11 Johan Van Niekerk, 10 Jaco Colyn (captain), 9 Marlin Ruiters, 8 Arne Grobbelaar, 7 Andre Tredoux, 6 Paul Roux, 5 Frans La Grange, 4 Philippus Jacobus Steyn, 3 Drew Van Coller, 2 Gert Erasmus, 1 Roelof David Koorsen.
Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Barry Landman, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Johann Christoffel Myburgh, 21 Earl Snyman, 22 Hadley Smith.
Coach: Jaco Swanepoel
Assistant coach: Dougie Heymans
Date: Monday, February 23
Venue: UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 4.45pm (live on SuperSport)
