Test veterans boost Wanderers’ starting team against Unam
Club rugby
FNB Wanderers coach Dirk Human has made various changes to his first team for Saturday’s do-or-die last-round match against FNB Unam in the JSB Gold Cup rugby series.
The NTV team will deliver the live broadcast from the Unam Stadium (kick-off at 15:45) in a virtual semi-final of the top-six competition.
In last week’s narrow mid-week win (29-27) against Trustco United at Gemsbok Park, Wanderers lost their lock Ruan Ludick with a shoulder injury, while wing Nico Maartens tore a biceps muscle which required an operation earlier this week.
However, Wanderers’ backline has been strengthened by the return to action of test veterans JC Greyling (wing) and Johan Deysel (centre), who appeared to have semi-retired after the 2023 World Cup, as well as centre Danco Burger, who is back from injury. All three played off the bench against United, with Greyling scoring two tries.
Test hooker Obert Nortje could also make an impact on his return to action for the White Stallions.
At their home field, Russel van Rooi’s underdog Unam team will attempt to deliver an upset in a match which will book the winners a spot in the JSB Gold Cup final against already-qualified FNB Grootfontein on 20 September.
Front-runners Grootfontein was supposed to host United on Saturday, but a string of unavailable players have forced the Philistines to withdraw both their first and second team for the fixture.
In Unam’s most recent first-team match, they beat FNB Rehoboth 46-28 in an away match three weekends ago (23 August), with centre Alcino Izaacs and backline replacement Don Juan Beukes each scoring two tries.
FNB Wanderers: 1 Herschell van Wyk, 2 ?Obert Nortje, 3 ?Jayden van Zyl, 4 Rainer Augustyn, 5 ?Andre Augustyn, 6 ?JP Campbell, 7 ?Sheron Rossouw, 8 Edward Drotsky, 9 ?Reben Botha, 10 ?Kian Fransman, 11 ?JC Greyling, 12 ?Danco Burger, 13 ?Johan Deysel, 14 ?Danie van der Merwe (captain), 15 ?Nandivatu Karuuombe. Bench (includes): 17 ?Hans Ngoshi, 18 ?Iyambo Tshuuya, 21 ?SW Kuhn, 22 ?Tolley Tjipute, 23 ?Wiks Conradie.
• At Rehoboth, FNB Kudus will take on FNB Rehoboth in both teams\' last fixture of the club season.
Kudus’ slim outside chance of still finishing as one of the top-two finalists disappeared with United’s withdrawal against Grootfontein, which will hand the latter the full six log points and a 49-0 result as a points margin. Wikus Jacobs’ men are thus secured as one of the premier division’s finalists on 20 September.
The NTV team will deliver the live broadcast from the Unam Stadium (kick-off at 15:45) in a virtual semi-final of the top-six competition.
In last week’s narrow mid-week win (29-27) against Trustco United at Gemsbok Park, Wanderers lost their lock Ruan Ludick with a shoulder injury, while wing Nico Maartens tore a biceps muscle which required an operation earlier this week.
However, Wanderers’ backline has been strengthened by the return to action of test veterans JC Greyling (wing) and Johan Deysel (centre), who appeared to have semi-retired after the 2023 World Cup, as well as centre Danco Burger, who is back from injury. All three played off the bench against United, with Greyling scoring two tries.
Test hooker Obert Nortje could also make an impact on his return to action for the White Stallions.
At their home field, Russel van Rooi’s underdog Unam team will attempt to deliver an upset in a match which will book the winners a spot in the JSB Gold Cup final against already-qualified FNB Grootfontein on 20 September.
Front-runners Grootfontein was supposed to host United on Saturday, but a string of unavailable players have forced the Philistines to withdraw both their first and second team for the fixture.
In Unam’s most recent first-team match, they beat FNB Rehoboth 46-28 in an away match three weekends ago (23 August), with centre Alcino Izaacs and backline replacement Don Juan Beukes each scoring two tries.
FNB Wanderers: 1 Herschell van Wyk, 2 ?Obert Nortje, 3 ?Jayden van Zyl, 4 Rainer Augustyn, 5 ?Andre Augustyn, 6 ?JP Campbell, 7 ?Sheron Rossouw, 8 Edward Drotsky, 9 ?Reben Botha, 10 ?Kian Fransman, 11 ?JC Greyling, 12 ?Danco Burger, 13 ?Johan Deysel, 14 ?Danie van der Merwe (captain), 15 ?Nandivatu Karuuombe. Bench (includes): 17 ?Hans Ngoshi, 18 ?Iyambo Tshuuya, 21 ?SW Kuhn, 22 ?Tolley Tjipute, 23 ?Wiks Conradie.
• At Rehoboth, FNB Kudus will take on FNB Rehoboth in both teams\' last fixture of the club season.
Kudus’ slim outside chance of still finishing as one of the top-two finalists disappeared with United’s withdrawal against Grootfontein, which will hand the latter the full six log points and a 49-0 result as a points margin. Wikus Jacobs’ men are thus secured as one of the premier division’s finalists on 20 September.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article