Pukke trek to Welkom

With the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International a little over a week away, the NWU-Pukke - the losing finalists in 2009 - will play their one and only practice match on Saturday.

The Pukke will travel to Welkom to play the Griffons' Vodacom Cup team.

Head coach Rudy Joubert has not yet decided on the exact group that will travel to Welkom, but he wants to take a few extra guys with as he is unsure about some positions in his squad.

"We have an abundance of players fighting for two positions - especially at flyhalf and inside centre," explained the experienced mentor.

"The two new guys Dauw Steyn [College Rovers] and Niël Jacobs [Shimlas] can both play flyhalf, whilst Jacobs is also very comfortable at No.12. So I am very satisfied with our depth in those crucial positions."

This means that the two inside back incumbents, Wouter Watermeyer and Cecil Dumond (flyhalf) will have their work cut out to keep their spots in 2010.

"I will also keep a close eye on our set-phases on Saturday, just to see if everything is running smoothly there and how the new guys fit in," Joubert told varsitycup.co.za.

"And although it will be our only practice match (after assembling on January 4 after a long pre-season which started in the first week of November and finished on December 17), it will have to do.

"A coach must always balance the risk of injuries in too many friendlies or being undercooked when the first match comes around [on February 1 against Tuks]," he concluded.

Joubert believes Pukke's 'balance sheet' is better in 2010 - despite losing the likes of captain Willem van der Wal (No.8), the experienced Jaco Koch (prop) and star lock Grant le Roux, all of whom formed part of a very experienced forward pack last year.

Meanwhile, experienced hooker Stoffel Duvenage has been announced as captain for the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, although loose forward 'Kempie' Rautenbach (pictured, above) - who attended Monday's launch at UJ - will skipper the team on Saturday.

By Ruan Bruwer