Van Staden to give Tukkies 'a kick'

FNB Tuks will not be limited again by having only one recognised place kicker in their starting line-up. That is why Justin van Staden will replace injured Aaron Denenga at left-wing in the FNB Tuks team for the Varsity Cup match against FNB UJ on Monday at the Tukkies Athletics Stadium.

Van Staden usually plays fullback, as he did in the 2009 Carlton Cup Final, but there is very little doubt that he will also be at home in the No.11 jersey.

Of course, against Pukke in FNB Tuks' opening match, designated place kicker Gertjie Smith failed with four attempts at goal.

Smith remains the first-choice place-kicker for the home team - but with Van Staden also on the field as a very capable back-up, the pressure on Tuks' lively fullback will be less than in the game against Pukke. Van Staden's selection will also give Tuks more options as far as tactical kicking goes, one of their biggest shortcomings against Pukke.

Van Staden's inclusion is one of seven changes to the starting XV, six forced by injuries or sickness.

The players on the 'unavailable' list are Denenga (ankle), Dirk Dippenaar (right-wing, groin), Ignick Windvogel (scrumhalf, ankle), Warwick Tecklenberg (flank, torn knee ligaments), Marius Oosthuizen (flank, spider bite) and Francois van Wyk (lock, ankle).

Oosthuizen had to be rushed to hospital during training on Wednesday after becoming short of breath and light-headed. He also started showing a rash and it turned out that he had been bitten by a spider. Oosthuizen reacted so severely to the spider's toxin that he had to put on a ventilator, before eventually being stabilised.  

In the backline, Wesleigh Marais takes over from Windvogel and Deon Helberg from Dippenaar. The two new flankers are Devon Oosthuizen and Lourens Lombaardt, Cornell Hess takes over from Van Wyk at lock, whilst Ettienne Breytenbach makes way for Musa Tukela at loosehead prop.

In the meantime, inside centre Franco Booysen will know on Friday only if he has concussion. It will be the second day running that he will undergo tests to make sure he is fit to play after a bump to the head in the match against Pukke. If Booysen is not cleared, he will be replaced by Donnovan Marais.

The FNB Tuks team: 15 Gert Smith, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Ernie Kruger, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Justin van Staden, 10 Shaun Davids (captain), 9 Wesleigh Marais, 8 Marius Weber, 7 Devon Oosthuizen, 6 Lourens Lombaardt, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Tiaan Nel, 3 Hein Viljoen, 2 Chris Crous, 1 Musa Tukela.
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, Ettienne Breytenbach, 18 Joe Walters, 19 Oswin Mentoor, 20 Stanley Twiname, 21 Donovan Marais, 22 Tendai Chikukwa, 23 Danie Oosthuizen.

Head coach: Freddie Grobler

Date: Monday, February 8
Venue: Tukkies Athletics Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Referee: François Veldsman

By Morris Gilbert