UJ's flyhalf face-off
There will be an interesting subplot when FNB UJ travel to Kroonstad this weekend to take on FNB Shimlas in a warm-up game as two talented flyhalves - Theuns Kotze and Guy Cronjé - stake their claims for a starting spot.
Kotze was highly impressive for UJ last year as they romped to the top of the table in the league phase of the Varsity Cup and then went on to turn heads worldwide with some assured performances at pivot for Namibia in the World Cup.
Known as a dead-eye kicker with an impressive running game, Theuns 'Worsie' Kotze looked comfortable mixing it with the likes of Wales, Samoa and the Springboks, but he may have a fight on his hands for the UJ No.10 jersey.
Cronjé has recently made the move up to Johannesburg from Durban along with his identical twin brother and scrumhalf Ross, and the former Michaelhouse prodigy will be determined to deliver on his considerable potential - starting with a solid season with UJ.
No doubt coach Hugo van As is overjoyed to have such a healthy spirit of competition in his squad and he will be using the traditional pre-season clash with Shimlas in Kroonstad to take a good look at all of his options.
Both universities will field two different teams of mixed ability to play 30-minute halves to give the coaches an opportunity to settle on their strongest combinations.
The teams:
UJ (Team 1): 15 Aubrey McDonald, 14 Jacques Erasmus, 13 Justin St. Jerry, 12 Divan van Zyl, 11 JR Esterhuizen, 10 Guy Cronjé, 9 Jacques Pretorius, 8 RJ Liebenberg, 7 Dylan Peterson, 6 Thulip Marole, 5 Sebastian de Chavez, 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Jaco Vermeulen, 2 Shaun Malton, 1 Ollie Terblanche.
UJ (Team 2): 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Blake Mecuur, 13 Juffrou Vermeulen, 12 Luhan Steenkamp, 11 Andries Oosthuizen, 10 Worsie Kotzé, 9 Danny Botha, 8 Daneel Ellis, 7 Wendal Wehr, 6 Jimmy Hughes, 5 Marnus van Huyssteen, 4 David Antonites, 3 Anthony Gallagher, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Njabulo Mkhize.
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