Table-topping Tuks will be looking for their first away win of the Varsity Cup when they travel to Potchefstroom to face Pukke on Monday.
The two-time champions have two home wins and a draw, having been held in the opening round in Bloemfontein by Shimlas, who are the only other team left unbeaten in the competition. Tuks will be up against a Pukke side smarting from their first loss of the season against UJ last week.
A desparate Maties side, who find themselves in unfamiliar territory in seventh place on the standings, are still looking for their first win and things do not get much easier for the three-time champions, with an impressive Shimlas team waiting for them in Bloemfontein.
The two games to be televised live on SuperSport 1 will be coastal clashes, with defending champions UCT hosting newcomers CUT on the Green Mile, and UJ travelling down to Port Elizabeth to face the NMMU Madibaz.
It's been a tough introduction to the Varsity Cup for CUT after gaining promotion, and they face another test of character against Ikeys, who'll be aiming for another bonus-point win at home to put more pressure on the top four.
Having lost in Cape Town last week, the Madibaz will be back in front of their home crowd, but they are sure to have their work cut out for them against a confident UJ side that had the better of Pukke last week.
In the Varsity Shield, the chasing pack will be hoping to make up some ground on log-leaders Wits who have a bye. Fort Hare will be looking for their first win of the season against the TUT Vikings in Alice and UKZN take on UWC at Howard College in Durban.
UCT vs CUT
UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.45 (SuperSport 1)
UCT – 15 Paul Cohen, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 Lihleli Xoli, 12 Nicholas Holton, 11 Dylan Sage, 10 Warren Seals, 9 Ryan Dugmore, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (c), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Jade Kriel, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew.
Subs: 16 Msizi Zondi, 17 Kyle White, 18 Mark Prior, 19 Luke Stringer, 20 James Alexander, 21 Guy Schwikkard, 22 Dean Gericke, 23 David Maasch.
CUT – 15 Jesse du Toit, 14 Lethole Makoena, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Duan Pretorius, 11 Christiaan Erasmus, 10 Luke Cyster, 9 Arrie Vosloo, 8 Dean Kouprihanoff, 7 Victor Maruping, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Daneel Botes, 4 JJ Nel, 3 Ian Smith, 2 Len Noort, 1 Gerard Baard.
Subs: 16 Jozua de Jager, 17 Niel Schoombee, 18 Jean-Claude Fourie, 19 Rayno Nel, 20 Dean Jacobs, 21 Dean Rossouw, 22 Naude van Biljon, 23 Boetie Makethlo.
SHIMLAS vs MATIES
Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 18.30
Shimlas – 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Niel Claassen, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Theuns Neuwoudt.
Subs: 16 Marco Klopper, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Refuoe Rampete, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Renier Botha, 21 Stefan Janse van Rensburg, 22 JP Coetzee, 23 Dolph Botha.
Maties – 15 Craig Barry, 14 Jamie Joseph, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Ernest Stapelberg, 9 Bjorn Bernardo, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Justin Benn, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (c), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Neethling Gericke, 1 Abel de Klerk.
Subs: 16 Craig Corbett, 17 Migael Grobler, 18 Lourens Fick, 19 Derick Linde, 20 Remu Malan, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 Jacobus van der Merwe.
PUKKE vs TUKS
Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 18.30
Pukke – 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (c), 7 Marno Redelinguys, 6 Molotsi Bouwer, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith.
Subs: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Daniel Jordaan, 19 Jaco Buys, 20 Kurshwill Williams, 21 Marnus Tack, 22 Heinrich Smith, 23 Cayle Denner.
Tuks – 15 Riaan Britz, 14 Damian van Wyk, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 John Jackson, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (c), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Andrew Beerwinkel, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Jan Enslin, 17 Nqobisiswe Mxoli, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Pieter Janse van Vuren, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 Adrian Maebane, 23 Dayan van der Westhuizen.
NMMU vs UJ
Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.00 (SuperSport 1)
NMMU – 15 Jarryd Buys (c), 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Micheal Barnardt, 12 Devon Lailvaux, 11 Yamkela Ngam, 10 Steven Hansel, 9 Ivan Ludick, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Jody Reyneke, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Rob Louw, 4 Paul Tyler, 3 Brenden Oliver, 2 Warrick Venter, 1 Arno Ebersohn.
Subs: 16 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 17 Steven Robbeson, 18 Philip Odendaal, 19 Stephan Zaayman, 20 Enrico Acker, 21 Andile Jho, 22 Brian Skosana, 23 Marzuq Maarman.
UJ – 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert de Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Aphiwe Dyanti, 10 Jaco Fourie, 9 Chuma Faas, 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Kyle Van Dalen, 6 Kobus Porter (c), 5 David Antonites, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 Nico du Plessis, 2 Siphatho Qinisile, 1 Gareth Milasinovich.
Subs: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Brandon Landsberg, 18 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 19 Wiaan Conradie, 20 Hilton Mudarika, 21 James Campbell, 22 Dominic Kroezen, 23 Raeez Salie.
By Michael de Vries
Photo: Varsity Cup
