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The second match of the 2021 Varsity Cup takes place today @ 19h00 between the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and the host, University of Pretoria (TUKS). The match will be played at the TUKS rugby stadium.
This year, the FNB Varsity Cup and the FNB Varsity Shield will take place inside a secure bio-bubble in Pretoria from 4 April to 24 May. With the majority of matches set to take place at Tuks Stadium and no fans in attendance, this year’s stadium will feature something extra for FNB Varsity Cup fans watching live on SuperSport.
TUKS head coach Nico Luus said “We lost a few guys, including captain Marius Verwey, [flyhalf] Fiela Boshoff and [No 8] Ewart Potgieter, but we still have the core of the senior group from last year like [wing] Stefan Coetzee, [No 8] Jaco Bezuidenhout and [flank] Hanru Sirgel. We’ve also recruited a couple of good youngsters who came through the system – Cebolenkosi Dlamini, a very strong loosehead prop from Maritzburg College; former Sharks U21 flank Lindokuhle Luthuli; and flyhalf David Coetzer, who helped the Bulls win the SA Rugby U21 Championship last year.
So we have a really good mix of youth and experience. [Centre] Sango Xamlashe was an obvious choice as captain this year. He represents everything we stand for, on and off the field. He is a consummate professional and has the respect of the players. I am excited to see how he does as a captain. He will share the responsibility with Jaco.”
TUKS captain Sango Xamlashe said that they have prepared for every situation, on and off the field. "I don’t think anything will come as a surprise as our life coach JL de Jager has prepared us so well mentally. The bio-bubble will be something new for everyone, but we will definitely adapt to it."
One player TUKS will rely on is the young David Coetzer. Having been part of the Bulls team that won last year’s SA Rugby U21 Championship, Coetzer will now spearhead FNB UP-Tuks’ title challenge in the FNB Varsity Cup. The former Junior Springbok is an excellent all-round flyhalf, who is dangerous with the ball in hand, an accurate kicker, a solid defender and a good communicator. FNB UP-Tuks coach Nico Luus regards the 22-year-old as “one of the best flyhalves I’ve had the privilege of coaching” and believes he will finish among the top point-scorers in this year’s FNB Varsity Cup if he stays injury-free.
Wits head coach Hugo van As said “The most significant players we’ve lost are [fullback] Daniel Kasende and [wing] Kwanele Ngema, who have finished their degrees. They both played a huge role in getting Wits to where we are today. Kwanele has moved into coaching and is learning his trade with our Young Guns team, so he is still part of our system.
We’ve also lost [centre] Sicelo Champion and [prop] CJ Greeff. We will miss those four players’ experience, but the young players who replace them will want to make the Wits jersey proud. I don’t think any captain in this year’s Varsity Cup can expect to play all nine [league] matches, so we have appointed Justin Brandon and Constant Beckerling as co-captains. They are different types of leaders but both are formidable leaders and have played a huge role for us.”
Justin Brandon, captain of Wits that one can’t expect the same Varsity Cup with the way the tournament is structured this year. Teams will have to be on top of their game from the get-go. The bio-bubble is going to bring a new aspect to the tournament with players staying together and away from their families for 10 days at a time. But I’m excited about the tournament and I can’t wait for it to start.
David Cupido is an experienced flyhalf/centre, who won two FNB Varsity Shield titles with FNB UWC before joining FNB Wits ahead of the 2020 season. “His biggest strength is his understanding of the game and ability to read the game,” says FNB Wits coach Hugo van As.
FNB UP-Tuks – 15 Alex-Zander du Plessis, 14 Johannes Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe (co-c), 12 Louis van der Schyff, 11 Enrique Oranje, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Clyde Lewis, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout (co-c), 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Lindokuhle Luthuli, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Mihlali Stamper, 3 Etienne Janeke, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Cebolenkosi Dlamini. Replacements: 16 Werner Fourie, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Damien Swartz, 19 Stephan Smit, 20 Orateng Koikanyang, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Jaylen James.
FNB Wits – 15 Jimmy Mpailane, 14 Wian de Lange, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Yanga Hlalu, 11 Sthsaba Mqhatu, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Hlumelo Ndudula, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Lindokuhle Ncusane, 6 Constant Beckerling, 5 William Thomson, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Morné Brandon, 1 Jason Cloete. Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Bhekisa Shongwe, 18 Ebot Buma, 19 Junior White, 20 Phillip Krause, 21 Runaldo Pedro, 22 Kurt Webster, 23 Ngia Selengbe.