Hungry Wits ring the changes
After FNB Wits' dismal performance against CUT on Monday - when they went down 12-25 - head coach Andrew Royle has made a couple of changes to his team's pack for Thursday.
Wits, the losing finalists in last year's Varsity Shield tournament, will hope to open their account - at home - against FNB Fort Hare in their Round Two match on Thursday evening (kick-off 7pm).
For this reason, tighthead prop Oliver Rochat has been dropped to the bench (to be replaced by Phakamili Zuma), Charles Baggott moves to lock in place of Rinus Bothma, who falls out of the matchday 23 altogether, and Peter van Biljon is in for Sam Peters in the No.6 position.
Peters, in turn, drops to the bench, with lock Brendan Whyte coming into the squad - on the bench - where he will replace Bothma.
Wits enjoyed success over their Eastern Cape counterparts in both encounters in last year's Varsity Shield and they will hope that it will stay the same as they desperately need some log points to stay in touch with frontrunners, FNB UWC and FNB CUT.
Royle was very disappointed with the result on Monday and he expects a much better performance from his charges - despite still being without squad captain Rory Anderson who is still recovering from injury.
Also, a positive result for Wits will take momentum into their third match on Monday, February 6 when they face log leaders, FNB UWC, who won away at Fort Hare this past Monday.
The FNB Wits team: 15 Blake Dismore, 14 Nkululeko Gamede, 13 Heinke Hartdegen, 12 Ryan Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley (vice-captain), 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Devin Montgomery, 6 Peter van Biljon, 5 Charles Baggott, 4 Katlego Ntsie (captain), 3 Phakamili Zuma, 2 Tyrell Tintinger, 1 Katlego Kgame.
Replacements: 16 Piers Cooper, 17 Oliver Rochat, 18 Brendan Whyte, 19 Sam Peters, 20 Josh Durbach, 21 Bronson Lange, 22 Zunaid Kock, 23 Juandre Kirkham.
Date: Thursday, February 2
Venue: Wits Rugby Stadium
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Gerrie de Bruin
Assistant referees: Local (TBC), Renier Prinsloo
By Quintin van Rooyen
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