Snyman returns for Maties clash
The timing of his recovery from concussion could not have been more convenient, as FNB UJ’s first-choice scrumhalf Jaco Snyman may well be one of his team’s major trump cards in Monday’s FNB Varsity Cup match presented by Steinhoff International against the Maties.
Snyman – who replaces Danny Botha in the No.9 shirt – was concussed in UJ’s warm-up match against Shimlas and his inclusion is one of four changes to the starting line-up that did duty against FNB Tuks last week.
FNB UJ head coach Hugo van As will decide after training on Saturday only who of Aubrey McDonald or Bernardo Botha will replace Trekker van Tonder on the right-wing. Van Tonder injured his quad muscles and could be sidelined for two weeks.
“There is very little to choose between Aubrey and Bernardo. Both will add value to the team,” UJ head coach Hugo van As told varsitycup.co.za.
In other changes to the UJ line-up, No.7 flank Wendell Wehr has a broken finger and will be replaced by Justin Wheeler, who played in the No.6 jersey against FNB Tuks. This is the only positional change, whilst JP Janse van Rensburg takes over from Wheeler on the other side of the scrum.
Van As believes FNB UJ have a steep cliff to climb against “arguably the in-form team in the competition”. “FNB Maties have set the pace in the first two rounds and we will have to make the step up, not they,” he said.
The FNB UJ team: 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Aubrey McDonald/Bernardo Botha, 13 Clinton de Klerk (captain), 12 Luan Steenkamp, 11 Lola Waka, 10 André Smith, 9 Jaco Snymnan, 8 Quinten Minnaar, 7 Justin Wheeler, 6 JP Janse van Rensburg, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 Martin Lombard, 3 Wayne Swart, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Replacements: 16 Brett Claassens, 17 Cllint van Niekerk, 18 Marnus van Huyssteen 19 Hennie Kilian, 20 Danny Botha, 21 Ryno Luus, 22 McDonald/Botha, 23 Jaco Claassen.
Head coach: Hugo van As
Date: Monday, February 15
Venue: UJ Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Referee: Ben Crouse
By Morris Gilbert
