NMMU choose for Maties opener
FNB NMMU coach Kolie Brandt has selected his side for Monday's Varsity Cup opener against the defending champion Maties, with scrumhalf Lusu Booi leading his charges into battle.
Booi will team up at halfback with Willem Laubscher, with Aluzant Munnik, Oscar Mazaka and Darryl Turner forming a speedy back three against their favoured opponents.
"The pressure is on the Maties because they are the champions," Booi told varsitycup.co.za this week. "We just need to stick to our gameplan - there is no pressure on us."
Most of the players in the NMMU line-up are new faces at this level, with stars like loose forward André Goosen - a key man for the Madibas last season - having moved on to Cape Town this year.
The FNB NMMU team: 15 Aluzant Munnik, 14 Oscar Mazaka, 13 Williams Heydenrych, 12 Wade Roos, 11 Darryl Turner, 10 Willem Laubscher, 9 Lusu Booi (captain), 8 Sameul Borsaah, 7 Ferdie Gerber, 6 Thomaso Farbes, 5 Jannie Fourie, 4 Mathew Lutge, 3 Pierre Hammond, 2 Hugo Lampbrechts, 1 Tyron Williams.
Replacements: 16 Werner Kapp, 17 Chariel van Jaarsveld, 18 De Wet De Lange, 19 Kemsley Wesso, 20 JP Kellerman, 21 Hugo van Heerden, 22 Phiwe Lallendle, 23 Ivon Cowley.
Head coach: Kolie Brandt
Date: Monday, February 1
Venue: Xerox NMMU Stadium
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Referee: Mlungiseli Mdashe