Mass-change for Shimlas team
The FNB Shimlas have made no less than nine changes to their matchday-23 for Monday's crucial home Varsity Cup fixture against TUT. Many of those changes, however, have been forced upon coach Jaco Swanepoel.
Two players, fullback George Whitehead and hooker PW van Vuuren, are back in the Free State Cheetahs Vodacom side and both of them will be starting against SWD over the weekend. They were on loan to the Shimlas.
Van Vuuren's place on the bench has been taken by Gert Erasmus, whilst no fullback has yet been chosen; with 'AN Other' named on the official Shimlas teamsheet.
Shimlas team manager Dougie Heymans explained to varsitycup.co.za: "We are searching for someone who can kick.
"There are a few players in the backline who can kick at goal, but we will make that decision (on Sunday) in consultation with Braam van Straaten, who will help the kickers over the weekend."
Van Straaten, the old-Bok and Stormers ace, has been hired by the Shimlas to work with some players on their goal- and tactical-kicking - something that hasn't always been their strong point in the 2010 Varsity Cup.
Elsewhere in the Shimlas line-up, Jamba Ulengo (left-wing) and tighthead prop Marcel van der Merwe have been called up for national Under-20 duty.
Their spots have been taken by Beast Ndwandwa and Ian Potgieter, respectively, with the latter moving from loosehead to tighthead prop. Charles Marais takes over the No.1 jersey, whilst James Hellawell and Johnny Harris move onto the bench.
Harris (19 years of age) is new to the Shimla outfit and takes the spot of Vaatjie Koortsen who suffered a broken jaw.
At flank Chris Dry - who played for the SA Vipers last year - replaces Willie Britz, who gets a break after receiving a blow to his knee against the Maties earlier this week, and, finally, winger Rashied Isaacs will make his comeback via the bench.
The FNB Shimlas team: 15 AN Other, 14 Divandré Strydom, 13 Earl Snyman, 12 Wayne Stevens (captain), 11 Beast Ndwandwa, 10 Reinhardt Erwee, 9 Jaco Colyn, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Chris Dry, 6 Hanno Pieterse, 5 Wilken Heyns, 4 Joubert Horn, 3 Ian Potgieter, 2 Hans Grobler, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Gert Erasmus, 17 James Hellawell, 18 Lebo Zietsman, 19 Sybrand Mostert, 20 Marlin Ruiters, 21 Johan van Schalkwyk, 22 Rashied Isaacs, 23 Johnny Harris.
Head coach: Jaco Swanepoel
Date: Monday, March 1
Venue: Shimla Park
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Referee: Dilbert November
By Ruan Bruwer