Taute the centre of attraction
Jaco Taute, who played for the University of Johannesburg in the 2010 Varsity Cup, has been named to start at inside centre for the Auto & General Lions against the Cheetahs this weekend.
The Lions will travel to Welkom on Saturday for their final match in the 2010 tournament and coach Dick Muir has handed the very talented Taute a first run-on opportunity, after coming off the bench over the past two weeks.
Taute – who is just 19 years old – will line up in the No.12 shirt alongside Marius Delport (outside centre) and Herkie Kruger (flyhalf), following the footsteps of fellow UJ student Wandile Mjekevu who made his Super Rugby debut earlier this year – also aged just 19.
Taute, meanwhile, will have a fellow Varsity Cup squad member on the Lions bench – winger Bernado Botha, who impressed this season for UJ with his face and finishing abilities.
Of course, Taute will join up with the South African Under-20 squad after this weekend, with the country’s best youngsters in the midst of preparing for the annual IRB Junior World Championships – this time in Argentina.
Taute will be joined in the SA U20 squad by Shimlas star Marcel van der Merwe (who also played in the 2010 Varsity Cup), but Maties flanker Sam Mabombo – a member of the Varsity Cup-winning Maties squad – has been forced to withdraw because of injury.
The Lions team: 15 Carlos Spencer, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 5 George Earle, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Charles Emslie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Gert Muller, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jonathan Mokuena, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Michael Killian, 22 Bernado Botha.
Kick-off: 3pm
