Ikeys face loaded Matie gun again
Thu, 08 May 2008 14:17
The University of Cape Town will be looking for revenge when they host Stellenbosch University in what promises to be an entertaining Intervarsity league meeting at Groote Schuur on Friday (kick-off 18.00 - 16.00 GMT).
However, the UCT side will, as they did in the Varsity Cup Final last month, face a re-inforced Maties team.
The powerful Stellenbosch outfit - apparently in defiance of a Western Province Rugby Union request to rest these players - will draft in a host of Vodacom Cup stars such as Ricardo Croy, Allistair Siegelaar, Dabeon Draghoender, Mike Rice and Morgan Newman.
But that should not stop the Ikeys' quest for revenge.
The Ikeys will feel that they owe the Maties one after their gut-wrenching loss in the Final of the inaugural FNB Varsity Cup last month and UCT head coach John Dobson has a host of fit-again stars to choose from for this encounter at the 'Green Mile'.
Squad captain JJ Gagiano is ready to take the lead once again after picking up a nasty haematoma in that Final, whilst lock Mike Ledwidge and prolific wing-cum-fullback Mathew Turner are also back to full fitness.
German international Bodo Sieber will add even more fire to the Ikey Tigers' second row, whilst loose forward Jody Birch is also eligible for selection after sitting out the Varsity Cup, along with established UCT players like Sieber and Vakai Hove - all of whom were too old to play in the Varsity Cup.
"I guess it's fair to say we owe Stellenbosch one," admitted Dobson this week.
"Losing in the Varsity Cup Final was a bitter pill to swallow for the squad and it certainly contributed to our poor start to the league. That, and our long injury list from the Varsity Cup, took its toll!"
Maties, after their somewhat fortuitous Varsity Cup win in the dying seconds of regulation time, have been in fine form since then, picking up a maximum of 25 points from their first five league matches.
They have, as they perennially do, dominated the WP club season which is now five rounds 'old' and last Saturday at Newlands saw off the challenge of the big budget Hamiltons, whose stars include former Sharks No.8 Jaco Gouws and SA rugby's Peter Pan, Johan Ackermann.
The Maties were convincing in their 26-20 win, with Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, Sarel Potgieter, once again outstanding.
In UCT's line-up for Friday, no doubt, will be the Varsity Cup's Forward of the Tournament, Herbie Mayosi and Back of the Tournament, James Martin.
