Photo Credit - Speedshots.co.za
In the fourth match in Round 3 of the 2021 Varsity Cup Competition, host TUKS face the NWU Eagles at the TUKS Stadium Field @ 17h00. Both teams are still unbeaten but the Eagles can not afford to play catch up rugby. TUKS will not allow them to come back at the end of the match to sneak a win.
The Eagles had a good win in Round 1 against the Madibaz with 47-28. However, they had to work a lot harder in their second match against the Shimlas. Two tries in the second half gave them a 32-22 win after trailing 16-0 after 20 minutes of play in the first half.
Charl Pretorius is replaced by Pienaar van Niekerk in the only change in the backline. Sphephelo Mabuza who replaces Jandré de Beer at seven is the only replacement up front.
Tuks had a good win against Wits in Round 1 with 48-25 and then overpowered UJ with 47-19 in the second round. Although TUKS wins were impressive I do think that they can still improve especially up front. The pack of forwards is not what we are used to from TUKS.
In the only change in the backline, a brilliant Wian van Niekerk is replaced by an equal impressive Louritz van der Schyff at the inside centre. Eduan Lubbe and Thomas Meyer are the new faces up front.
FNB UP-Tuks – 15 Zander du Plessis, 14 Johannes Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe (c), 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 11 Ambesa Zenzile, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 7 Orateng Koikanyang, 6 Eduan Lubbe, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Etienne Janeke, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Cebolenkosi Dlamini. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 André van der Merwe, 19 Lindo Luthuli, 20 Divan Venter, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Bayanda Ngubane, 23 Jaylen James.
FNB NWU Eagles – 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Keano Windvogel, 13 Lincoln Daniels (c), 12 Conan Le Fleur, 11 Pienaar van Niekerk, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Ruben Dreyer, 7 Sphephelo Mabuza, 6 André Fouché, 5 Jeandré Leonard, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Komape Moloto, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Ruben du Plessis. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Abraham Baumann, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Wihan Nel, 20 Jandré de Beer, 21 Caleb Louw, 22 Marco Donges, 23 Meyer Kriel.