Injured Shimlas stars will be missed
The FNB Shimlas might boast a solid-looking squad for Monday's opening match of the 2012 Varsity Cup against the defending champion Ikeys, but they are missing some key men.
All-action flanker Willie Britz, who captained the Shimlas during last year's Varsity Cup, is now in week fifteen of recovering from surgery to his right shoulder. He does, however, look set to play again in Week Two or Three of this year's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Jamba Ulengo, originally thought by Shimlas' head of conditioning Derick Coetzee to be ready to take his position on wing against UCT is still not ready to take the field due to his long-term hamstring injury.
Other forwards, Lebo Zietsman (lock), John-Henry Harris and Stephan Kotze (both props), will also miss out on Game One, even though they are all players to look out for later this season.
"It might take one or two games to really get them back in the game," Shimlas coach Jaco Swanepoel told varsitycup.co.za.
Still, Swanepoel knows where to focus when his side goes onto the Green Mile on Monday, adding: "Accuracy at the breakdown points will be something that we will really put focus on."
Swanepoel would have liked to be able to call upon someone line Britz at the breakdown on Monday, but luckily he has Lappies Labuschagnè waiting in the wings - so to speak - to help his team on the field and when it comes to leadership when facing the notorious Cape doctor.
"It is once more going to be a game of two halves," said the long-time Shimlas boss. "Depending on the way the wind blows, one half would have a lot of kicking from our side and the other will see more of a fight for ball position.
"But the wind usually comes from one place in Cape Town," he added with a grin. "Of course tries have never been as important as they are now."
Another potential thorn in the Shimlas flesh is their lack of depth in the scrumhalf position. Under-20 sensations, Kevin Luiters and Pieter Rademan, are the remaining options in this position for the Men from Kovsies. This comes after the loss of Danie Cronjé, who underwent knee surgery this week.
Luiters will be in the starting line-up on Monday with Rademan serving as his replacement.
Both are exceptional young players with loads of talent, but the fact that there's just two of them leaves Swanepoel with a headache.
By Stefan Lotter
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