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All eyes on Shimlas

───   09:17 Mon, 08 Feb 2016

All eyes on Shimlas | News Article
Niell Jordaan - Varsity Cup

This evening all eyes will be on the defending Varsity Cup champions, the University of the Free State Shimlas, with the popular competition kicking off.

The Shimlas are in Cape Town for their opening game of the tournament where they will go head-to-head with the 2014 champions, the University of Cape Town Ikeys.

The Shimlas will be fielding a largely new look team for this years’ tournament, including a new coach, former Springbok loose forward, Hendro Scholtz.

Scholtz told OFM Sport that there is pressure on them as the title holders, but they cannot enter the tournament seeing themselves as the champions.

“We’re looking forward to it, in the preparation we talked about what is expected from us and I don’t think we should go into it as the defending champions.

“Every team you’re in has to fight for their own stake and has to make their own memories and I think that is the message to the players as well.

“We almost have to forget about last year, it’s a new season and it’s in their hands now, we have made new memories and create new opportunities to get into finals.”

Tonight’s game, which will be televised, kicks off at 19:00.

Meanwhile, in the first televised game, the two-time champions, the University of Pretoria Tuks, host last years’ losing finalists, the North West University Pukke.

This game kicks off at 16:45.

The two 18:00 games will see the University of Johannesburg hosting the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Madibaz and in Stellenbosch, the Maties tackle the Central University of Technology Ixias at Coetzenburg.

Shimlas - 
15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Mosolwa Mafuma, 13 Stephan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Arthur Williams, 11 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 10 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 9 Zee Mkhabela, 8 Albertus Erasmus, 7 Neil Claasen (captain), 6 Refuoe Rampeta, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Jacob Immelman, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Teunis Nieuwoudt.

Replacements –
16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Jan Venter, 19 Ntokozo Vidima, 20 Renier Botha, 21 Renaldo Meyer, 22 Daniel Maartens, 23 Jacobus van Vuurden.

Ikeys - 
15 Khanyo Nguckana, 14 Sebastian Roodt, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Hendrik Lategan, 11 Chibale Suwilanji, 10 Rob Anderson, 9 Dylan Tidbury, 8 Guy Alexander (captain), 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Jason Klassen, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Michael Kumburai, 2 Brenton Greaves, 1 Joel Carew.

Replacements - 
16 Keagan Timm, 17 Msizi Zondi, 18 Olwethu Hans, 19 Nyasha Tarusenga, 20 Steven Wallace, 21 Hilio De Abreu, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Sam Theron.

Morgan Piek/OFM News

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