TUT 'Bullish' ahead of opener

Five former Blue Bulls Under-19 players have been included in the FNB TUT Vikings squad for their opening match in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup competition presented by Steinhoff International.

They are Thabo Motau (left-wing), Werner Lourens (lock), Braam van der Merwe (tighthead prop), Juan Pike (loosehead prop) and Ryno Lopes (replacement utility forward) - all of whom will be hoping to help their side put one over the University of Johannesburg this coming Monday.

"We are fielding a very young team, but it has the potential to become a great one," said Vikings forwards coach Jimmy Watt ahead of his team's opener against UJ.

"The only way to know if the young players in the team will stand their ground against older, more experienced opponents is to let them loose."

Motau, Lourens, Van der Merwe, Pike and Lopes are amongst the 12 players in the 23 who have not yet played FNB Varsity Cup rugby for the FNB TUT Vikings.

The other debutants are ex-Valke Currie Cup centre Henk de Ridder, flyhalf Jacques Venter (recruited from Pretoria Police), scrumhalf Manny Raposo (who missed the whole of last season due to a serious knee injury), Emile Verster (the new captain) and ex-Blue Bulls and Valke Currie Cup loose forward Alfred Khoza.

Replacements Alfred Khoza, Dewald van Deventer and Johan Oosthuizen make up the rest of the debutants.

The FNB TUT Vikings team: 15 Hansie Graaff, 14 Johan Swartz, 13 Henk de Ridder, 12 Lutho Nyeka, 11 Thabo Motau, 10 Jacques Venter, 9 Manny Raposo, 8 Wikus Botes, 7 Emile Verster (captain), 6 Athi Mtya, 5 Werner Lourens, 4 Johan Steenkamp, 3 Braam van der Merwe, 2 Johan Pieterse, 1 Juan Pike.
Replacements: 16 Alfred Khoza, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Dewald van Deventer, 19 Ryno Lopes, 20 Nico van Zyl, 21 Felix Godlo, 22 Johan Oosthuizen, 23 Johann Visser.

Coach: Alex de Kock
Assistant coach: Jimmy Watt

Date: Monday, February 1
Venue: Tuks Athletic Stadium
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Referee: Tiaan Jonker

By Morris Gilbert