All-change for Tukkies
FNB Tuks coach Freddie Grobler has made plenty of changes to his starting XV for Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International clash against NMMU in Pretoria (kick-off 6.30pm).
Tuks have not fielded the same starting XV once this season and coach Grobler has announced a side with ten changes in total from the outfit that did duty against the FNB TUT Vikings this past Monday.
Three of the changes are positional ones, however; as Justin van Staden - who scored 27 of Tuks' 42 points against TUT - moves from the left-wing to fullback, Ernie Kruger from right-wing to outside centre and Dirk Dippenaar from outside centre to the right-wing.
Of the fifteen players who started Monday's ding-dong Pretoria Derby, just four will play in their original positions against the Madibas; they are lock Tiaan Nel, flanker Louwrens Lombard, flyhalf and captain Shaun Davids and inside centre Franco Booysen - the latter a try-scorer against TUT.
The FNB Tuks team: 15 Justin van Staden, 14 Dirk Dippenaar, 13 Ernie Kruger, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Aaron Denenga, 10 Shaun Davids (captain), 9 Ignick Windvogel, 8 Coenie Pieters, 7 Tendaiyi Chikukwa, 6 Louwrens Lombard, 5 Francois van Wyk, 4 Tiaan Nel, 3 Peet Vorster, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ettienne Breytenbach.
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Marius Weber, 19 Joe Walters, 20 Sampie Mastriet, 21 Fanie Booysen, 22 Gert Smith, 23 Hein Viljoen.
Head coach: Freddie Grobler
Date: Monday, February 22
Venue: Tuks Rugby Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm (Live on SuperSport One)
Referee: Dilbert November