Terrific Tigers tame Madibaz, mighty Maties hit 50 & Wits make history

Wits won for the first time in the history of Varsity Cup rugby against Tuks and condemned the 2017 champions to a second successive defeat. In the FNB Varisty Cup latest, the Ikey Tigers won, Maties put 50 past Shimlas and UJ were in control against CUT.

Monday night’s big story was Wits and their 25-19 triumph against Tuks.

Ikeys scored a late try to seal a 27-17 win against the Madibaz in Port Elizabeth. Maties hammered Shimlas 56-21 in Stellenbosch and UJ enjoyed a 48-21 home win.

It was UCT’s first win of the season after they lost to Wits a week ago.

More to follow …

How the FNB Varisty Cup official home page previewed Monday’s Round Two action

FNB Madibaz will look to make a statement in their opening game of the Varsity Cup 
FNB Madibaz will play their opening game of the season after having a bye in the first round and will play their first home game since 2016, having played all games away last year due to a revamp at the Madibaz Stadium. Coach David Maidza returns with his side and will be buoyed by the presence of captain Riaan Esterhuizen who has two years of FNB Varsity Cup experience.

FNB UCT will be reeling after letting their lead go against FNB Wits last week, after the Johannesburg side scored two late tries to claim a vital 30-26 away win in Cape Town. FNB UCT will look to make up for their home loss with an away win in Port Elizabeth and try catch the Eastern Cape side unawares with the clash being FNB Madibaz’s opening game.

Venue: Madibaz Stadium
Kickoff: 16:45
Live on SuperSport

Teams
FNB Madibaz Starting XV: 15 Michael Botha, 14 Lindelwe Zungu, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Riaan Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Athi Mayinje, 10 Simon Bolze, 9 Sibusiso Ngcokovane, 8 Justin Hollis, 7 Wynand Grassman, 6 Henry Brown, 5 Gerrit Huisamen, 4 Reyno Du Toit, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Jean-Pierre Jamieson, 1 Nicolas Roebeck
Replacements: 16 Jedwyn Harty, 17 Tembelihle Yase, 18 Luyolo Dapula, 19 Robert Izaks, 20 Lovu Claassen, 21 Henrique Olivier, 22 Jordan Koekemoer, 23 Keegan Branford

FNB UCT-Ikeys Starting XV: 15 Karl Martin, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 Khanyo Ngcukana, 12 Joel Smith, 11 Sebastian Roodt, 10 Darian Hock, 9 Stefano de Gouveia, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (captain), 6 Liam Greenhalgh, 5 Duncan Saffy, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Josh Van Vuuren, 17 Ashwyn Adams, 18 Ntokozo Khomo, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Kwezi Puza, 21 Pieter Schoonraad, 22 Lohan Lubbe, 23 Suwilanji Chibale

FNB Maties looking to build on sublime opening performance
FNB Maties will be feeling confident going into their clash with FNB Shimlas after their season opener against FNB UJ, last week. FNB Maties gave the home side a tough lesson on a nippy Monday evening to the tune of 31-3. FNB Maties entered their FNB Varsity Cup opener against FNB UJ as firm favourites, with the Stellenbosch boys having won the tournament three times, been runners up four times, and significantly strengthened their squad in 2018.

FNB Shimlas will be buoyed by their performance in the opening game of the FNB Varsity Cup after beating FNB UP-Tuks 19-17 at a cold and wet Tuks Rugby Stadium last week. The current FNB Varsity Cup trophy holders couldn’t keep up with the men from Bloemfontein who were well prepared for the bout in the rain. FNB Shimlas coach Hendro Scholtz believes his side weren’t allowed to play their natural game last week because of the weather, but will spread the ball in their bout with FNB Maties.

Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Kickoff: 18:30

Teams
FNB Maties Starting XV: 15 Reinardt Fortuin, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Johan Fouche, 2 Arnoldi Wilmar, 1 Chippie Oelofse (captain)
Replacements: 16 Hendrik Luus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Piet Strauss, 19 Brandon Valentyn, 20 Stephan Streicher, 21 Logan Boonzaaier, 22 Elden Schoeman, 23 Munier Hartzenberg

FNB Shimlas Starting XV: 15 Nicholas Naude, 14 Athi Halom, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Sango Xamlashe, 11 Gideon Agenbag, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Dian Badenhorst, 8 Albertus de Bod, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi, 6 Jan Cloete, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Raymond Woest, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Gert Kotze (captain)
Replacements: 16 JC Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Wentzel Vorster, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Rholane Ncubuka, 20 Christoffel Roelofse, 21 Zinedene Booysen, 22 Francois Pretorius, 23 Sechaba Matsoele

FNB UJ will look to bounce back against FNB CUT
FNB UJ took a hiding in their first game of the season after going down 31-3 to FNB Maties in Johannesburg last week. The men from Jozi conceded four tries on the day while only producing three points through a penalty from number 10 Jean-Luc Cilliers. FNB UJ will, however, look to get back on track in their second game of the season at home against FNB CUT who also took a clobbering last week, losing 70-7 to FNB NWU in Potchefstroom.

FNB CUT didn’t have an ideal start to their FNB Varsity Cup campaign after taking a 70 -7 clobbering from FNB NWU at the Fanie du Toit Sportsgrounds. FNB CUT conceded a whopping nine tries on the day and only scored one try through hooker Tiaan Erasmus. FNB CUT Captain Rayno Nel believes his side don’t need any more motivation than they already have and are keen to stick to their guns instead of reverting to another game plan.

Venue: UJ Stadium
Kickoff: 18:30

Teams
FNB UJ Starting XV: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Tyreeq February, 13 Jan-Louis la Grange, 12 Jaco Fourie, 11 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 10 Jeanluc Cilliers, 9 Brandley Thain, 8 Wian Conradie, 7 Adriaan Bester, 6 James Venter, 5 Kevin de Randt, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Nico du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (captain), 1 Sibusiso Lali
Replacements: 16 Hendrik van Schoor, 17 Dillon Bakos, 18 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 19 Dian Schoonees, 20 Johan Esterhuizen, 21 Austic-Marc Davids, 22 Louis van der Schyff, 23 Cohen Kiewit

FNB CUT Starting XV: 15 Dimitrio Tieties, 14 Masego Toolo, 13 Rasmus Breedt, 12 Heinrich Bitzi, 11 Dean Jacobs, 10 Denver Kleu, 9 Ruben De Haas, 8 Gerhardus Nel, 7 Rayno Nel (captain), 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Brendon Fortuin, 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Stefan van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster
Replacements: 16 Johannes Terblanche, 17 Raynard Esterhuizen, 18 LW Viljoen, 19 Isiah Bila, 20 Arne van Rensburg, 21 Tiisetso Madonsela, 22 Mazithulele Nkosi, 23 Ruben Heymans

FNB Wits braced for FNB UP-Tuks backlash
FNB Wits will be feeling confident going into the trans-Jukskei clash with FNB UP-Tuks. FNB Wits displayed determination and a great showing with ball-in-hand to claim a vital 30-26 away win against FNB UCT in Cape Town in the first round of the FNB Varsity Cup on Monday. The Braamfontein-based side scored two tries in the last 10 minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with Daniel Kapepula, Constant Beckerling, Chris Hume and AJ van Blerk all dotting down. FNB Wits coach Hugo van As was happy about their result against FNB UCT but admitted they weren’t at their best and could improve.

FNB UP-Tuks will be disappointed with their opening game of the FNB Varsity Cup after losing 19-17 to FNB Shimlas at a cold and wet Tuks Rugby Stadium on Monday evening. FNB UP-Tuks coach David Manuel’s side only lost the game by two points after scoring three tries to FNB Shimlas’ two with their goal accuracy letting them down. The men from Pretoria scored tries through Xolisa Guma, Toko Seerane and captain Denzel Hill. Manuel is disappointed with how FNB UP-Tuks got began their season but believes his side’s systems should see them through.

Venue: Wits Rugby Stadium
Kickoff: 19:00
Live on SuperSport

Teams
FNB Wits Starting XV: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 Adriaan van Blerk, 11 Bin Daniel Kapepula, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Ayabulela Mdudi, 7 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt, 6 Constant Beckerling (captain), 5 Pascal Snyman, 4 Dawid Bodenstein, 3 CJ Greeff, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Sipho Siboza, 19 Jethro de Lange, 20 Kyle Wesemann, 21 Manqoba Mbatha, 22 Lwazi Monakali, 23 Luyolo Qinela

FNB UP-Tuks Starting XV: 15 Willem Strydom, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Adrian Seerane, 12 Christo Hamman, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Theo Maree, 8 Eduan Lubbe, 7 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 6 Jacobus Smit, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Marius Verwey, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Franco van den Berg
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobberlaar, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Ruan Nortje, 19 Orateng Koikanyang, 20 Carlo Engelbrecht, 21 Tony Botha, 22 Mihle Nelani, 23 Mornay Smith