Tuks look for redemption in Stellenbosch
Tuks’s Varsity Cup rugby team will have to deliver their best performance of the season so far to beat Maties at home in Stellenbosch on Monday night.
Tuks will be on the hunt for their first victory when they take on the high-flying Maties on Monday at Danie Craven Stadium.
It’s not the start Tuks coach David Manuel would have dreamt of taking over as coach of the Pretoria side after two consecutive losses.
Their first defeat came against Shimlas 19-17 at home in the rain and then to Wits 25-19 in Johannesburg.
It’s understandable though, considering the transitional period the team is going through. Tuks has a new coach, new captain and a largely different side with many players leaving after their Varsity Cup title victory in 2017.
With many stars among their ranks, including captain Denzil Hill at flank, number 10 Tinus de Beer and winger Xolisa Guma, they are far from down and out and should have the potential to get a few victories down the line. Therefore they will definitely aim to shock Maties at home.
Guma and outside centre Toko Seerane have been star performers in the early phase of their campaign both scoring against Shimlas and Wits.
Maties will look to make it three from three when they host the current-title holders.
The boys from Stellenbosch have been on a roll this season after dispatching UJ 31-3 in their first round and 56-21 in their second round against Shimlas.
The Maroon Machine has scored 11 tries in just two games, blowing their opponents away with winger Duncan Saal scoring five tries this season, picking up the Player that Rocks award twice, and scored a hat-trick in his most recent game against Shimlas.
Monday’s clash serves as a repeat of last year’s final where Tuks showed character to hold off Maties to win the tenth instalment of the competition 28-21.
Kick-off is at 19:00 (live on SuperSport 1)
Teams:
Tuks: 15. WJ Strydom, 14. Dewald Naude, 13. Adrian Seerane, 12. Erich Cronje, 11. Xolisa Guma, 10. Tinus de Beer, 9. Theo Maree, 8. Clyde Davids, 7. Denzel Hill (captain), 6. Jacobus Smit, 5. Eli Snyman, 4. Ruan Nortje, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Johan Grobbelaar, 1. Andrew Beerwinkel. Replacements: 16. Cornelius Els, 17. Mashao Mukhari, 18. Marius Verwey, 19. Marco van Staden, 20. Carlo Engelbrecht, 21. Divan Rossouw, 22. Tyler Fisher, 23. Wesley Adonis
Maties: 15. Reinardt Fortuin, 14. Duncan Saal, 13. Cornel Smit, 12. Chris Smit, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Christopher Smith, 9. Remu Malan, 8. Janco Venter, 7. Marno Redelinghuys, 6. Mitchell Carstens, 5. Johan Momsen, 4. Ernst van Rhyn, 3. Johan Fouche, 2. Wilmar Arnoldi, 1. Chippie Oelofse (captain). Replacements: 16. Hendrik Luus, 17. Ricky Nwagbara, 18. Piet Strauss, 19. Brandon Valentyn, 20. Stephan Streicher, 21. Logan Boonzaaier, 22. Elden Schoeman, 23. Munier Hartzenberg.
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