Lions Pride

Going into the final stretch the Varsity Cup has heated up and the teams have been pushing each other close and last week saw three matches finishing within 4 point margins. As teams are hitting their straps it’s not getting any easier and this week promises another round of close games.

Prediction stats:

Overall: 13/16 (81.25%)
Last week: 2/4 (50%)

Superbru positions:
Global: 455 / 14,152
UCT Fans: 18 / 881 (Down 17)
Front Row Grunt: 7 / 161 (Down 5)

IKEYS V Maties: 4 Mar – 16.45 (tv) UCT Rugby Stadium (The Green Mile)

Ikeys host Maties at the Green Mile and they will want to record their first win against their old rivals who is unbeaten so far. Apart from the draw against NMMU in the first week Ikeys has struggled to compete but last week pushed Pukke close while Maties has struggled to finish off their opponents the past two weeks and were pushed all the way by the Madibaz and by Tuks. In an interesting move Ikeys fullback Dillyn Leyds will start at flyhalf but Maties, however, should be too much for the Capetonians and Ikeys will have to wait for their first win.

Maties by 9

UCT: 15 Ross Jones-Davies, 14 Dylan Sage, 13 David Ambunya, 12 Liam Bax, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Liam Slatem (captain), 8 Bradley Bosman, 7 Ntsolo Setlaba, 6 Derek Asbun, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Kyle Kriel, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oliver Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes de Klerk, 19 Jason Klaasen, 20 Rick Schroeder, 21 Richard Stewart, 22 Paul Cohen, 23 Digby Webb.

Maties: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Clearance Khumalo, 13 Mark Hodgkiss, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Dean Hammond, 10 Dean Grant, 9 James Alexander, 8 Helmut Lehmann (captain), 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villers, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Os Hamman, 2 Neethling Gericke, 1 Alister Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Charl de Villiers, 17 Hein van der Merwe, 18 Jurgen Streicher, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Andries Truter, 21 JH Potgieter, 22 JP Lewis, 23 Brendan Pitzer.

NMMU V UJ: 4 Mar – 19.00 XEROX NMMU Stadium

UJ has had the luxury of consistent selection during the competition and once again has made only one change with lock David Antonides returning. They will look to their back three to cross the goal line a few times but the Madibaz has shown that they are no pushovers this year, not even for the big guns and the battle in PE is going to be a tough one where NMMU will try to emulate the giant killing act of their Super Rugby side the Kings. UJ’s consistency and their dangerous runners de Kock, Esterhuizen and Botha should clinch the game for them.

UJ by 9

NMMU: 15 Jarred Buys, 14 Gerhardus Smith, 13 Hermanus van Lill, 12 Xolani Mnisi, 11 Logan Basson, 10 Justin Van Staden, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Timothy Agaba, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Albertus de Swardt, 5 Louis Fourie, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Lizo Gqoboka, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Roy Godfrey (captain).

Replacements: 16 Francois Coetzer, 17 Gareth Hartley, 18 Ferdinand Gerber, 19 Mzwanale Zito, 20 Lesley-Dean Luiters, 21 Lonwabo Ntleki, 22 Yamkela Ngam, 23 Dexter Fahey.

UJ: Kobus de Kock; JR Esterhuizen, Bradley Moolman, Luhan Steenkamp, Chrysander Botha; Divan van Zyl, Vian van der Watt; RJ Liebenberg, Justin Wheeler (c), Kobus Porter, David Antonites, Shane Kirkwood, Kop van der Westhuizen, Malcolm Marx, Wiseman Kamanga.

Replacements: AJ le Roux, Wessel Durand, Johan van der Hoogt, Tulip Marole, Jacques Pretorius, Juffrou Vermeulen, PJ Walters, Njubalo Mkhize.

SHIMLAS V NWU Pukke: 4 Mar – 19.00 (tv) XEROX SHIMLA PARK

Shimlas will be disappointed with their season so far having only one win, against rookies Wits in Round 1, to show for their efforts while Pukke have only lost to UJ in Round 2 and will feel they have the Shimlas number. Both teams got wake up calls last week, Shimlas losing to NMMU while Ikeys pushed Pukke close. In the end Pukke should take the game though.

Pukke by 6

UFS-Shimlas: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Maphutha Dolo, 13 Robbie van Schalkwyk, 12 Stephan van der Merwe, 11 Divandre Strydom, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Erik le Roux, 7 Teboho Mohoje (captain), 6 Henco Venter, 5 JC Astle, 4 Fanie van der Walt, 3 Carl van Heerden, 2 Elandre Hugget, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 JC van Wyk, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Freddie Ngoza, 20 Hlanlha Hlongwane, 21 Sethu Tom, 22 Francois du Toit, 23 Luan de Bruin.

Pukke: Hoffman Maritz; SW Oosthuizen, Sylvian Mahuza, Hennie Skorbinski, Luther Obi; Gerhard Nortier, Tiaan Dorfling; HP Swart, MB Lusaseni, Philip de Wet, Strand Kruger (c), Danie Jordaan, Herman Basson, JC Oberholzer, Martin Dreyer.

Replacements: Marius Fourie, Arno Ebersohn, Molotsi Bouwer, SJ Niemand, Jaco Grobler, Justin Botha, Rowayne Beukman, Mashudu Mafela.

TUKS V Wits: 4 Mar – 19.00 TUKS RUGBY STADIUM

Another tough task awaits newcomers Wits when they face the Blue Bulls parking garage, Tuks, in Pretoria. Wits has shown that they are here to play rugby and has scored three tries in each of their last two game but a lack of possession and a porous defence has resulted in big scores being run past them. They are on a steep learning curve but I don’t expect the trend to change this week and Tuks should be comfortable winners.

Tuks by 39

UP-Tuks: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Vainon Willis, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Handre Pollard, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Danie Faasen, 8 Jono Ross (captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Basil Short, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Schalk Van Heerden, 19 Wesley Kotze, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Riaan Britz, 22 Piet Lindeque, 23 Stephan Pretorius.

Wits: 15 Riaan Arends, 14 Jeremiah Latana, 13 Kayde Fisher, 12 Jared Meyer, 11 Jacques Erasmus, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Mathew Torrance, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Carel Greef, 6 Juan-Pierre Jonck, 5 Charles Baggot, 4 Devin Montgomery (captain), 3 Phakamilu Zuma, 2 Katlego Kgame, 1 Hannes Ludik.

Replacements: 16 Rory Anderson, 17 Thato Mavundla, 18 Peter van Biljon, 19 Shai Korb, 20 Joshua Durbach, 21 Greg Blom, 22 Michael Sephton-Poultney, 23 Ferdinand Kelly.

Varsity Cup Log

Week 3 of the Varsity Cup and the log has an unfamiliar look to it with Shimlas in second, the NMMU Mabibaz in third spot and UJ, Pukke and Ikeys in numbers 5, 6 and 7 spots. Not the log we have come to expect.

I have been doing well in the Varsity Cup Superbru pools so far and may my form continue.

Ikeys fans: 14/856
Front Row Grunt: 3/160
Auto pool: 2/22
Pretbederwers: 1/16

SHIMLAS V  TUKS – 16.45 (tv) Shimla Park

Shimlas take on the stuttering champions, Tuks, at home and will hope to consolidate their position on the log. The champions, although loaded with young talent, haven’t really fired so far and will look for combinations to gel. I think there is just too much talent in the form of Clayton Blommetjies, William Small-Smith, Wian Liebenberg, Shaun Adendorff and Handre Pollard in the Tuks side and they should come good in Bloem.

Tuks by 9

FNB Shimlas: 15 Robbie van Schalkwyk, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Reinhardt Erwee, 12 Thys Smit, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Francois du Toit, 9 Renier Botha, 8 Erik le Roux, 7 Teboho Mohoje (captain), 6 Freddie Ngoza, 5 JC Astle, 4 Fanie van der Walt, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Elandre Hugget, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements: 16 JC van Wyk, 17 Franco van der Merwe, 18 Henco Venter, 19 Niell Jordaan, 20 Hlanlha Hlongwane, 21 Earl Snyman, 22 Divandre Strydom, 23 Luan de Bruin.

FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Riaan Britz, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Jean Cook, 7 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Mike Williams, 3 Hencus Van Wyk, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Sabelo Nhlapo.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Schalk Van Heerden, 19 Jacques Verwey, 20 Clayton Stewart, 21 Handre Pollard, 22 Piet Lindeque, 23 Christoph Gouws.

WITS V PUKKE – 19.00 Wits Rugby Stadium

Wits will hope to at least replicate their draw against Pukke in the Predator League last year but, although they started to gel after a nervious start to their Varsity Cup debut I don’t see them causing an upset against Pukke.

Pukke by 18

FNB Wits: 15 Bronson Lange, 14 Jacques Erasmus, 13 Kayde Fisher, 12 Mandla Dube, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Greg Blom, 9 Mathew Torrance, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Carel Greef, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Rinus Bothma, 4 Devin Montgomery (captain), 3 Phakamilu Zuma, 2 Rory Anderson, 1 Katlego Kgame.
Replacements: 16 Pierce Cooper, 17 Luvuyo Pupuma, 18 Peter van Biljon 19 Shai Korb, 20 Josh Durbach, 21 Jared Meyer, 22 Michael Sephton-Poultney, 23 Hannes Ludik.

FNB NWU-Pukke: 15 Hoffman Maritz, 14 SW Oosthuizen, 13 Sylvian Mahuza, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Gerhard Nortier, 9 Jaco Grobler, 8 SJ Niemand, 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Phillip de Wet, 5 Victor Kruger (captain), 4 Danie Jordaan, 3 Herman Basson, 2 JC Oberholzer, 1 Martin Dreyer.

Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Arno Ebersohn, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 HP Swart, 20 Tiaan Dorfling, 21 Rowayne Beukman, 22 Wynand Olivier, 23 Mashudu Mafela.

IKEYS V UJ – 19.00 Groote Schuur

It is the first start for the 2012 SA Schools hooker, Malcolm Marx, after being cleared to play senior rugby. UCT will hope to get their campaign on track not to end up near the bottom of the log again this year, maybe with some help from the Cape Doctor, but the game against UJ is not the one to do that, even if it is at the Green Mile.

UJ by 13

FNB UCT: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Liam Bax, 12 Nicholas Holton, 11 Paul Cohen, 10 Ross Jones-Davies, 9 Liam Slatem, 8 Josh Katzen, 7 Ntsolo Setlaba, 6 Kyle Kriel, 5 Jacobus Odendaal (captain), 4 James Kilroe, 3 Shane Meier, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Sti Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Derek Asbun, 17 Digby Webb, 18 Bradley Bosman, 19 Jason Klaasen, 20 Rick Schroeder, 21 David Ambunya, 22 Lihleli Xoli, 23 Oliver Kebble.

FNB UJ: 15 Kobus De Kock, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Bradley Moolman, 12 Luan Steenkamp, 11 Chrysander Botha, 10 Divan van Zyl, 9 Vian van der Watt, 8 RJ Liebenberg, 7 Justin Wheeler (captain), 6 Kobus Porter, 5 David Antonites, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Wiseman Kamanga.

Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Wessel Du Rand, 18 Fabian Booysen, 19 Steph de Witt, 20 Jacques Pretorius, 21 Adriaan Vermeulen, 22 Tommy Damba, 23 Njabulo Mkize.

MATIES V NMMU – 19.00 (tv) Danie Craven Stadium

The Madibaz will be happy with the solid start they made in their campaign this year but Maties at home is a different proposition to Ikeys and Wits and I don’t see Maties losing this one.

Maties by 18

FNB Maties: 15 Ryan Nell, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Mark Hodgkiss, 12 Hayden de Villiers, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Dean Grant, 9 James Alexander, 8 Nicholas de Jager, 7 Jurgen Streicher, 6 Helmut Lehmann (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 3 Os Hamman, 2 Neethling Gericke, 1 Alister Vermaak.

Replacements: 16 Charl de Villiers, 17 Niel Oelofse, 18 Lungelo Chonco, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Jean Nel, 21 JH Potgieter, 22 Clearance Khumalo, 23 Brendan Pitzer.

FNB NMMU: 15 Jarred Buys, 14 Mayibuye Ndwandwa, 13 Gerhardus Smith, 12 Xolani Mnisi, 11 Logan Basson, 10 Justin Van Staden, 9 Dwayne Kelly, 8 Timothy Agaba, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Simphiwe Shabangu, 5 Schalk Oelofse, 4 Louis Fourie, 3 Gareth Hartley, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Roy Godfrey (captain).

Replacements: 16 Albertus De Swardt, 17 Dexter Fahey, 18 Ulrich Pretorius, 19 Mzwanale Zito, 20 Lesley-Dean Luiters, 21 Hermanus van Lill, 22 Lonwabo Ntleki, 23 Lizo Gqoboka.