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PREVIEW: Varsity Cup, Round Five

After a strong showing this season, Wits have taken some big scalps, beating UP-Tuks, UCT and the NMMU-Madibaz, only conceding a loss to the Shimlas.

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A win over the table-topping Maties would send a strong message to the rest of the competition.

Meanwhile, Maties are looking to extend their incredible run in the Varsity Cup.

The Stellenbosch side has won all of four of their Varsity Cup games, taking some big scalps in the process with the likes of UP-Tuks, UJ and Shimlas all notches on their belt.

A win against the second-placed Wits would solidify their dominance of the competition.

Maties had a difficult start against CUT last week after conceding two tries in the first 15 minutes. Maties rallied well though and managed to score 75 points.

Maties captain Chippie Oelofse commented on the incredible comeback.

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"We did not have the best start against CUT, but I am proud how the boys bounced back."

The Maties skipper explained they will have to watch out for the dangerous Wits side.

"Wits are coming off a good win. They have a deadly backline with a powerful pack."

All the Round Five matches and teams below!

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Monday, February 26:

Wits v Maties

(Wits Stadium, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 16.45; 14.45 GMT)

Teams:

Wits: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Yanga Hlalu, 12 Adriaan van Blerk, 11 Daniel Kapepula, 10 Christian Humphries, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Ayabulela Mdudi, 7 Jethro de Lange, 6 Constant Beckerling (captain), 5 Pascal Snyman, 4 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt 3 CJ Greeff, 2 CJ Conradie, 1 Ameer Williams.

Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Craig Hume, 18 Sipho Siboza, 19 Christopher Worthington, 20 Jared Fuller, 21 Lwazi Monakali, 22 David Cary, 23 Luyolo Qinela.

Maties: 15 Reinardt Fortuin, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Elden Schoeman, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Remu Malan, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 Brandon Valentyn, 3 Johan Fouche, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Chippie Oelofse (captain).

Replacements: 16 Hendrik Luus, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Piet Strauss, 19 Mitchell Carstens, 20 Stephan Streicher, 21 Logan Boonzaaier, 22 Herman van Dyk, 23 Munier Hartzenberg,

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

UCT-Ikeys v Tuks

(UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town – Kick-off: 18.30; 16.30 GMT)

Teams:

UCT-Ikeys: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Karl Martin, 13 Liam Furniss, 12 Robert Charles Ball, 11 Joel Smith, 10 Darian Hock, 9 Pieter Schoonraad, 8 Nyasha Tarusenga, 7 Josh Moon (captain), 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba, 5 Duncan Saffy, 4 David Meihuizen, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Cuan Hablutzel, 1 Ntokozo Khomo.

Replacements: 16 Josh Van Vuuren, 17 Ashwyn Adams, 18 Wayrin Losper, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Kwezi Puza, 21 Stefano de Gouveia, 22 Lohan Lubbe, 23 Suwilanji Chibale.

UP-Tuks: 15 Christo Hamman, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Adrian Seerane, 12 Erich Cronje, 11 Xolisa Guma, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Eduan Lubbe, 6 Jacobus Smit, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Cornelius Els, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Marius Verwey, 18 Wesley Adonis, 19 Brian Leitch, 20 Joshua Allderman, 21 Mihle Nelani, 22 Willem Strydom, 23 Mashao Mukhari.

Referee: Ben Crouse

NMMU-Madibaz v NWU-Pukke

(Madibaz Stadium, Port Elizabeth – Kick-off: 18.30; 16.30 GMT)

Teams:

Madibaz: 15 Michael Botha, 14 Athenkosi Mayinje, 13 Riaan Esterhuizen (captain), 12 Jordan Koekemoer, 11 Lindelwe Zungu, 10 Simon Bolze, 9 Sibusiso Ngcokovane, 8 Justin Hollis, 7 Robert Izaks, 6 Henry Brown, 5 Wynand Grassman, 4 Luyolo Dapula, 3 Dylan Barendse, 2 Jedwyn Harty, 1 Nicolas Roebeck.

Replacements: 16 JP Jamieson, 17 Tembelihle Yase, 18 Similile Qinela, 19 Ruben le Roux, 20 Jayson Reinecke, 21 Dundre Maritz, 22 Henrique Olivier, 23 Siphumelele Msutwana.

NWU-Pukke: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Dean Gordon, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Paul de Lange, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout (captain), 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Wandile Mazibuko, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Theodore Ferreira, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Brendan Strydom.

Replacements: 16 Marius Stander, 17 Morne Strydom, 18 Matimu Manqanyi, 19 Jaco Swanepoel, 20 Senzo Mkhize, 21 Nkosana Mathaba, 22 Henko Marais, 23 Jimmy Mpailane.

Referee: Jaco Pretorius

Shimlas v UJ

(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)

Shimlas: 15 Sechaba Matsoele, 14 Athi Halom, 13 Ayabonga Oliphant, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Gideon Agenbag, 10 Nicholas Naude, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Benjamin Jansen van Vuuren, 7 Menzi Nhlabathi, 6 Jan Cloete, 5 Henk Pretorius, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Hanno Snyman, 1 Louis Cloete.

Replacements: 16 JC Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Wentzel Vorster, 18 Gert Kotze, 19 Raymond Woest, 20 Rholane Ncubuka, 21 Zinedene Booysen, 22 Olehile Losaba, 23 Tiaan Schutte.

UJ: 15 Ronald Brown, 14 Tatendaishe Mujawo, 13 Jan-Louis la Grange, 12 Mayibongwe Maduna, 11 Odwa Nkunjana, 10 Kobus Engelbrecht, 9 Bradley Thain, 8 Wian Conradie, 7 Adriaan Bester, 6 James Venter, 5 Estian Enslin, 4 Kevin du Randt, 3 Nico du Plessis, 2 Jannes Snyman (captain), 1 Sibusiso Lali.

Replacements: 16 Le Roux Baard, 17 Dillon Bakos, 18 Siyabonga Luwaca, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Johan Esterhuizen, 21 JeanLuc Cillier, 22 Austic-Marc Davids, 23 Cohen Kiewit.

Referee: AJ Jacobs

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