UCT will to look to redeem themselves against an underperforming UJ in Cape Town on Monday, while NWU travel to Shimlas, CUT host Maties and Tuks take on Wits.
UCT began their campaign with a solid win against the free-flowing UWC, but were then brought back down to earth by a rampaging Maties, who demolished them 66-5.
Meanwhile, UJ are in a rebuilding season after getting a new coach in Dewey Swartbooi and blooding some young players. They have lost all three of their games, including an embarrassing defeat to CUT in Bloemfontein last week.
UCT are not out of semi-final contention yet – they are blessed with a strong pack of forwards and the trusted boot of fullback Darian Hock – but will have to win on Monday if they are to keep up with the rest of the chasing pack.
Later in the day, NWU will face a stern test of their credentials when they travel to Bloemfontein to face an ever-improving Shimlas outfit.
The men from Potchefstroom are coming off a 37-21 victory over UWC, while Shimlas will be glad to finally play at home after gaining bonus-point wins in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
NWU captain Louis van der Westhuizen says he expects an unforgiving Shimlas side when they meet on Monday night.
‘The NWU and Shimlas game is most definitely a classic clash, so we are really excited. It’s always a war zone out on the field in Bloem, and therefore we have to step it up a notch.’
Shimlas captain Henk Pretorius is confident their home crowd will help thwart a strong NWU challenge.
‘We are looking forward to the NWU game. They have a good side, we are going to have to put together an immense effort to beat them. We know they are going to come for us, but it is our first home game and we are really looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd and making an impression.’
In the two non-televised games, unbeaten Maties will take on CUT in Bloemfontein, while Tuks will want to bounce back from their narrow defeat to the Maroon Machine when they host Wits.
UCT vs UJ
UCT Rugby field, Cape Town
Kick-off: 4:45pm (SuperSport 1)
UCT – 15 Darian Hock, 14 Rayno Mapoe, 13 Sibabalwe Mzanywa, 12 Robert Ball, 11 Thobekani Buthelezi, 10 Lohan Lubbe, 9 Kyle Bowman, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (c), 6 Cornelius Otto, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Duncan Saffy, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Brenton Greaves, 1 Ashwyn Adams.
Subs: 16 Cuan Hablutzel, 17 Ntando Mpofana, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Tawanda Mutuma, 21 Stef de Gouveia, 22 Michael Brink, 23 Jonty Bredell.
UJ – 15 Odwa Nkunjana, 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13 Tyreeq February, 12 Cyprian Nkomo, 11 Shaun Williams, 10 Mashudu Raphunga, 9 Jack Hart, 8 Dian Schoonees, 7 Adriaan Bester (c), 6 Edwin Jansen, 5 Tyler Brown, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Coenraad Vrey, 2 Willem du Plessis, 1 Kayden Kiewiet.
Subs: 16 Hloni Mphuthi, 17 Pierre Rabie, 18 Ethan Jeffery, 19 Tyler Brown, 20 Siyabonga Masuku, 21 Khanya Ncusane, 22 Johan Esterhuizen, 23 Wynand Botha.
CUT vs MATIES
CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 6:30pm (Not televised)
CUT – 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Jason Raubenheimer, 13 Ruan Wasserman, 12 Heinrich Bitzi, 11 Erasmus Breedt, 10 Marc Morrison, 9 Johannes Hattingh, 8 Hardus Nel, 7 Luvuyo Ndevu, 6 Ruan Smit, 5 Rayno Nel (c), 4 Stefanus Wessels, 3 Tebogo Masemola, 2 Anrich Alberts, 1 Edward Davids.
Subs: 16 Ruben Cross, 17 Quintin Vorster, 18 Hendrik Smit, 19 Sylvester Makakole, 20 Songezo Ngozi, 21 Estiaan van Rensburg, 22 Stefan Kruger, 23 Message Nkosi.
Maties – 15 Anton du Toit, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 David Brits, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Brendon Nell, 8 Joa Swart, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Johan Momsen (c), 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Wayrin Losper, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Ricky Nwagbara.
Subs: 16 HJ Luus 17 Jake Blew, 18 Jesse Johnson, 19 Johann van Niekerk 20 Luciano Elias, 21 Jordan Chait, 22 Carlisle Nel, 23 Piet-Louw Strauss.
TUKS vs WITS
Tuks Stadium, Pretoria
Kick-off: 6:30pm (Not televised)
Tuks – 15 Christo Hamman, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Lourens Pretorius, 12 Erich Cronje, 11 Ciaran Dayaran, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Raegan Oranje, 8 Denzel Hill, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Marius Verwey (c), 3 Jean-Pierre Smith, 2 Werner Fourie, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Subs: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Jacobus Eloff, 18 Bart le Roux, 19 Brian Leitch, 20 Mihlali Stamper, 21 Romeo Eksteen, 22 Damian Bonaparte, 23 Hendrik Bezuidenhout.
Wits – 15 Jared Fuller; 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 Yanga Hlalu, 11 Neil Nyembe; 10 Kurt Webster, 9 Krappie van der Berg; 8 Philip Krause, 7 Cal Smid, 6 Constant Beckerling (c), 5 Kevin du Randt, 4 Conor Brockschmidt, 3 Reynard Cronjé, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Bheki Shongwe.
Subs: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Luyolo Qinela, 19 Pascal Snyman, 20 Sipho Siboza, 21 Ruan Cloete, 22 Runaldo Pedro, 23 Keegan Lailveaux.
SHIMLAS vs NWU
Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 7pm (SuperSport 1)
Shimlas – 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Charl Pretorius, 13 Keegan Haman, 12 William Eybers, 11 Marnus Boshoff, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Zinedene Booysen, 8 Allan Losaba, 7 Henk Pretorius (c), 6 Janco Cloete, 5 Mervyn Roos, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Thembinkosi Mangwana.
Subs: 16 Wihan Marais, 17 John Fincham, 18 Mogau Mabokela, 19 Sihle Diniso, 20 Jan Rossouw, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ruan Henning, 23 Christiaan Schutte.
NWU – 15 Shane van Rooyen, 14 Andries van Niekerk, 13 Evardi Boshof, 12 AK Nela, 11 Lungelo Gosa, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Wian Conradie, 7 Muziwandile Mazibuko, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Jan du Plooy, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (c), 1 Tshegofatso Moloto.
Subs: 16 Marius Stander, 17 Nelius Theron, 18 Matimu Manganyi, 19 Reuben du Plooy, 20 Lucky Mkhize, 21 Eugene Hare, 22 BF van Staden, 23 Lincoln Daniels.
