Jaco to lead NMMU's charge
The FNB Madibaz will host the FNB NWU-Pukke in Monday's first round of 2012 Varsity Cup fixtures, with inspirational No.8 Jaco Swanepoel once again entrusted with the PE team's leadership duties.
NMMU will be hoping that home ground advantage counts for something against the Men from Potchefstroom on Monday evening, especially after the Madibaz's promising 2011 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International campaign.
Whilst Swanepoel is shaping up as a key man for the home side - again - he will team up with fellow hardmen up front, locks Mzwanele Zito and Mathew Lutge, to help the Madibaz get their faire share of ball on the night.
According to head coach Brent Janse van Rensburg, the Madibaz are better equipped and well ahead - in terms of preparation - from last year, with him saying: "It's a case of arriving on the day putting in what we practised and executing things to our potential."
Of course, it won't be easy against Pukke, the National Club champions, but Janse van Rensburg - who has the likes of Stanley Raubenheimer (backs coach) and Justin Peach (kicking coach) on his management team this year - is not worried about the opposition.
He added: "We see it as a game of rugby (only), we are not looking at titles.
"It's a new year and a new team. It depends what happens on the day... that will make or break it."
The FNB NMMU team: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 Eckard Jacobs, 13 Quinton Crocker, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Mayibuye Ndwandwa, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Anton Verster, 8 Jaco Swanepoel (captain), 7 Ulrich Pretorius, 6 Jaco Otto, 5 Mathew Lutge, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Ross David-Anderson, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Roy Godfrey.
Replacements: 16 Kobus Greeff, 17 Phillip Nel, 18 Louis Fourie, 19 Thomasau Forbes, 20 Marlin Ruiters, 21 Bradley Kretzman, 22 Devon Lailvaux, 23 Gareth Hartley.
Head coach: Brent Janse van Rensburg
Date: Monday, February 6
Venue: Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte, Local (TBC)
By Jeanré Muller
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