Varsity Cup Match Previews – Round 8

All the previews for the 8th round of the FNB Varsity cup, courtesy of varsitycup.co.za

Fixture: FNB CUT Ixias vs FNB UCT Ikeys

Kick-off: 16h45

Venue: CUT Rugby Stadium

Broadcast: Live on SuperSport 1

 

FNB CUT hosts FNB UCT in clutch clash

FNB CUT will be desperate to avoid relegation when they host FNB UCT in Bloemfontein.

The men from Bloemfontein were sent to the relegation zone after being defeated by FNB UP-Tuks last round and now face a momentous task when they host the physical FNB UCT.

 

FNB CUT are second from the bottom, with just FNB Madibaz cushioning them from automatic relegation. If FNB CUT don’t elevate themselves from the relegation zone, they will play a dangerous looking FNB WSU in the promotion/relegation game.

 

FNB UCT will be confident going into clash but will know that it is a clutch game considering that if they want to keep their dark-horse status, it is imperative they win their next two games, and a bonus point against FNB CUT would aid their cause.

 

FNB CUT coach Tiaan Liebenberg is cognizant of his side’s precarious log position and will try cope with the intensity of FNB UCT’s forwards pack.

 

“We are very aware that we are one point away from the relegation zone. Obviously, we are facing a big challenge with FNB UCT, they have a big pack that have been playing well and using their pack to their advantage. It will be up to us to keep them at bay.

 

“We have been playing well, we just haven’t been able to put two halves together.”

FNB UCT coach Christiaan Esterhuizen explained that his side are wary of the desperate FNB CUT side.

“Any team playing for survival is extremely dangerous, if they win the next two games they can save themselves from the relegation zone, and I’m sure that would be a topic of conversation for them.

“They are very good side in the margins, and we are expecting a massive onslaught from them to avoid relegation.”

 

FNB CUT Ixias Starting XV: 15 Dimitrio Tieties, 14 Mosego Toolo, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Marnu van Niekerk, 11 Tiisetso Madonsela, 10 Denver Klue, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Gerhardus Nel, 7 Ruan Smit, 6 Dean Rossouw, 5 Stefan Kruger, 4 Sylvester Makakole, 3 Stefan van Schalkwyk, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 1 Quintin Vorster

Substitutes: 16 LW Viljoen, 17 Raynard Esterhuizen, 18 Henco Smit, 19 Brendon Fortuin, 20 Isaih Bila, 21 Dean Jacobs, 22 Karabo Maqeba, 23 Dian Dry

 

FNB UCT Ikeys Starting XV: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Karl Martin, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Robert Ball, 11 Joel Smith, 10 Darian Hock, 9 Stef de Gouveia, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (c), 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Duncan Saffy, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Ashwin Adams, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Wayrin Losper

Substitutes: 16 Josh van Vuuren, 17 Simon Raw, 18 Stanley Modjadi, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Tristan Dixon, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Lohan Lubbe, 23 Suwi Chibale

 

Fixture: FNB UP-Tuks vs FNB UJ

Kick-off: 19h00

Venue: LC de Villiers Stadium

Broadcast: Live on SuperSport 1

 

FNB UP-Tuks on search for salvation

FNB UP-Tuks will continue their search for FNB Varsity Cup salvation when they host FNB UJ in the Trans-Jukskei Derby on Monday.

 

The men from the Capital are coming off their first victory of the tournament after beating FNB CUT 54-25 in Bloemfontein and will now to look to continue their surge away from the relegation zone and gain some respect by defeating the in-form FNB UJ.

 

It will be a difficult feat though, considering the Jozi side’s series of impressive performance, especially away from home after victories against fellow potential semi-final contenders FNB Shimlas and FNB Wits. FNB UJ are currently fourth on the log and a win against FNB UP-Tuks would almost certainly secure them a semi-final spot.

 

FNB UP-Tuks will be wary of a dangerous FNB UJ back line who have torn teams to shreds this competition. The likes of Ronald Brown, Tatendaishe Mujawo, Jan-Louis La Grange, Austin Davids and Odwa Nkunjana have been on serious form with Nkunjana picking up the Player that Rocks in the last game after scoring twice and almost scoring a third.

 

FNB UJ coach Werner Janse Van Rensburg believes FNB UP-Tuks will have confidence going into game and will be dangerous considering their backs are against the wall.

 

“We will see a desperate team that’s raring to go, especially now that they have a confidence winning game behind them after comfortably dispatching FNB CUT.

 

“There will be a lot of desperation tonight, from both sides, and it will be the same scenario for us. They are not a team to be underestimated or undervalued.”

 

FNB UP-Tuks Starting XV: 15 Emilio Adonis, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Tyler Fisher, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Christo Hamman, 9 Joshua Allderman, 8 Ewart Potgieter, 7 Andre Smith, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Marius Verwey, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Wesley Adonis

Substitutes: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Orateng Koikanyang, 19 Brian Leitch, 20 Romeo Eksteen, 21 Ruben Beytell, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Mashoa Mukhari

 

FNB UJ Starting XV: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13 Jan-Louis La Grange, 12 Austin Davids, 11 Odwa Nkunjana, 10 Kobus Engelbrecht, 9 Bradley Thain, 8 Wian Conradie, 7 Adriaan Bester, 6 James Venter, 5 Estian Enslin, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Nico du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (c), 1 Sibusiso Lali

Substitutes: 16 Hendrik-Petrus van Schoor, 17 Dillion Bakos, 18 Siyabonga Luwaca, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Johan Esterhuizen, 21 Jeanluc Cilliers, 22 Cyprian Nkomo, 23 Cohen Kiewit

 

Fixture: FNB Shimlas vs FNB Madibaz

Kick-off: 18h30

Venue: XEROX Shimla Park

 

FNB Shimlas on hunt for bonus-point win

FNB Shimlas will need a bonus-point victory if they hope to qualify for the FNB Varsity Cup Semi-Finals when they host FNB Madibaz in Bloemfontein on Monday.

 

The men from Bloemfontein have a clear path to the FNB Varsity Cup Semi-finals, though a path set with potential perils, a clear path nonetheless. FNB Shimlas need to score four tries to claim a bonus-point and beat FNB Madibaz. Hendro Scholtz’s men sit on 14 points which is seven points behind fourth placed FNB UJ.

 

FNB Madibaz find themselves in an incredibly dangerous position going into the game. The men from Port Elizabeth have two games left, both away from home and have not won a single game the entire tournament. The FNB Madibaz are fast heading for relegation with FNB UWC looking as though they might replace them. FNB Madibaz need to win their next two games if they want to avoid automatic relegation.

 

FNB Shimlas are coming off a bad spate of losses after taking a heavy 49-12 defeat against FNB UJ and an even worse 56-21 loss to FNB NWU and will hope to turn their fortunes around against FNB Madibaz.

The hosts will rely on their lightening back line and the cool head of fly-half Lubabalo Dobela while FNB Madibaz will use their powerful forward pack to get over the gain line.

 

FNB Shimlas Starting XV: 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Carel Coetzee, 13 Ayabonga Oliphant, 12 William Eybers, 11 Francois Agenbag, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Albertus De Bod, 7 Jacobus Lombard, 6 Janco Cloete, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Mogau Mabokela, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Wentzel Vorster

Substitutes: 16 JC Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Daniel Wessels, 18 Louis-Martin Cloete, 19 Nardus Erasmus, 20 Mihlali Peter, 21 Dian Badenhorst, 22 Athi Halom, 23 Ruan Henning

 

FNB Madibaz Starting XV: 15 Jordan Koekemoer, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Siphumelele Msutwana, 12 Riaan Esterhuizen (c), 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Henrique Olivier, 9 Dundre Maritz, 8 Justin Hollis, 7 Luyolo Dapula, 6 Henry Brown, 5 Ruben le Roux, 4 Wynand Grassmann, 3 Johan van Wyk, 2 Thembekile Boltina, 1 Nicolas Roebeck

Substitutes: 16 Andre Lategan, 17 Thembelihle Yase, 18 Dylan Barendse, 19 Siyamthanda Jwacu, 20 Jayson Reinecke, 21 Luvo Claassen, 22 Liam Blake-Tyalor, 23 Stephan Zeelie

 

Fixture: FNB Wits vs FNB NWU

Kick-off: 18h30

Venue: Wits Rugby Stadium

 

FNB Wits and FNB NWU battle for silver in Jozi

FNB Wits and FNB NWU will fight for second spot when the two sides clash in Johannesburg on Monday.

FNB NWU are currently on 25 points on the table, a mere two points above FNB Wits who are on 23.

 

Both sides will be aware of the importance of the game with FNB Wits going on a bye in the last round of the competition and FNB NWU facing the indomitable FNB Maties in their final round of the league stage competition.

 

FNB Shimlas proved to be no competition for FNB NWU, who sealed their fifth victory of the season after winning 58-21 at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds last week, and they will be looking to continue that form going into the clash.

 

FNB Wits on the other hand suffered 29-17 loss to FNB UJ at home and will be desperate to get back to winning ways.

 

FNB Wits Starting XV: 15 David Cary, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 Adriaan van Blerk, 11 Bin Kasende Kapepula, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Ayabulela Mdudi, 7 Ruan Macdonald, 6 Constant Beckerling (c), 5 Pascal Snyman, 4 Conor-Terah Brockschmidt, 3 Cornelius Greeff, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams

Substitutes: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Sipho Siboza, 19 Jethro de Lange, 20 Giovan Snyman, 21 Lwazi Monakali, 22 Yanga Hlalu, 23 Luyolo Qinela

 

FNB NWU Starting XV: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 AK Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout (c), 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Matimu Manganyi

Substitutes: 16 Percy Mngadi, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Theo Ferreira, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Wandile Mazibuko, 21 Nkosana Mathaba, 22 Ryno Wepener, 23 Jimmy Mpailane