Bax back for Ikey Tigers
UCT will welcome back star Tiger Bax for Monday's second-round Varsity Cup tussle against UJ, with late changes also seeing Liam Slatem and Don Armand included for the trip to Johannesburg.
Bax, a Stormers player in 2009, missed his side's disappointing opening-day defeat to FNB Shimlas - earlier this week - due to injury, but he will line up at outside centre alongside vice-captain Adrian Kritzinger.
Newboy Damian de Allende, who was so impressive in the No.13 jersey against the Shimlas, will shift to the right-wing - where he replaces the injured Richard Stewart - in a backline showing three changes from this past Monday.
The third change to the Ikeys backs division sees quicksilver halfback Liam Slatem - who is back to full fitness after picking up an injury during pre-season training - replace Nick Farrar at scrumhalf, with Farrar dropping to the bench and Steve Wallace missing out altogether.
Up front, meanwhile, Stormers pre-season squad member Don Armand - who has since been released by the Super Rugby franchise - has replaced the injured Graham Knoop (ankle) in the No.7 jersey, James Kilroe will start at lock in place of Pallo Manuel and Adriaan Botha will get a run at tighthead prop at the expense of Shane Meier.
In final changes to the UCT matchday 23 - from the line-up that went down 10-38 to Shimlas - former Craven Week player Rayn Smid replaces Kilroe on the bench, experienced openside flanker Zandy Macdonald is back from injury (and replaces James Tatham), with Bonga 'Mini' Bhengu taking over from Digby Webb as the extra replacement prop.
The FNB UCT team: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Damian de Allende, 13 Tiger Bax, 12 Adrian Kritzinger (vice-captain), 11 Mark Winter, 10 Nick Holton, 9 Liam Slatem, 8 Greg Mallett, 7 Don Armand, 6 Ntsolo Setlaba (captain), 5 Levi Odendaal, 4 James Kilroe, 3 Adriaan Botha, 2 Matt Page, 1 Wes Chetty.
Replacements: 16 Dayne Jans, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Rayn Smid, 19 Zandy Macdonald, 20 Nick Farrar, 21 Michael Morris, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Bonga 'Mini' Bhengu.
Head coach: Kevin Foote
Date: Monday, February 13
Venue: UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Izan Dippenaar, Ruaan du Preez
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
| Add a comment |
