Wits, UFH eyeing redemption
Wits and Fort Hare, the first-round losers in Monday's 2012 FNB Varsity Shield openers, will be hoping to open their accounts when they meet in a Round Two clash at the Wits Rugby Stadium on Thursday evening.
FNB Wits, the losers in the inaugural Shield Final in 2011, went down 12-25 to FNB CUT on Monday, whilst FNB Fort Hare were blitzed at home by a rampant FNB UWC outfit - going down 13-36 in the end.
Wits boss Andrew Royle admitted to being disappointed by his team's defeat and, as a result, made a few changes to his pack - including benching powerful flanker Sam Peters who, like a few of his teammates, was guilty of drifting in and out of the contest against CUT.
Meanwhile, Fort Hare coach Elliot Fana made just two adjustments to his bench, with the popular mentor hoping to build on the positives from Monday's loss to UWC - with some one-off errors helping Cheslyn Roberts (from UWC) to his hat-trick of tries, along with a late penalty try rubbing salt into their wounds.
Hosts, Wits, and visitors, Fort Hare, met twice last season - with the Men from Witwatersrand winning 23-14 and 22-13, both fairly close scorelines.
The teams :
FNB Wits: 15 Blake Dismore, 14 Nkululeko Gamede, 13 Heinke Hartdegen, 12 Ryan Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley (vice-captain), 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Devin Montgomery, 6 Peter van Biljon, 5 Charles Baggott, 4 Katlego Ntsie (captain), 3 Phakamili Zuma, 2 Tyrell Tintinger, 1 Katlego Kgame.
Replacements: 16 Piers Cooper, 17 Oliver Rochat, 18 Brendan Whyte, 19 Sam Peters, 20 Josh Durbach, 21 Bronson Lange, 22 Zunaid Kock, 23 Juandre Kirkham.
FNB Fort Hare: 15 Sikho Jekubeni, 14 Garth van Rayner, 13 Lundi Ralarala, 12 Buntu Ntlanzi, 11 Lutho Zathu, 10 Teboho Makuru, 9 Sibabalwe Mtsulwana, 8 Nkosikhona Nofuma, 7 Thando Ndondo (captain), 6 Abongile Dlani, 5 Billy Dutton, 4 Itumeleng Mokae, 3 Xola Mapapu, 2 Vuyisani Mavuso, 1 Sive Ntwasa.
Replacements: 16 Luzuko Nyabaza, 17 Siyabulela Sijula, 18 Mzwandile Yalezo, 19 Bongani Mwahla, 20 Anele Tsiko, 21 Khanyiso Komani, 22 Aziyena Mandaba, 23 Sihle Mtwa.
Date: Thursday, February 2
Venue: Wits Rugby Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Local (TBC), Renier Prinsloo