FNB Wits anticipating a fairytale ending in the Varsity Shield Final

Apr 15 • General News, Varsity & Club, Varsity Cup • 2559 Views • Comments Off on FNB Wits anticipating a fairytale ending in the Varsity Shield Final

MATCH PREVIEW: FNB WITS

The Wits Rugby Stadium could be the setting for a Hollywood finish on Monday 18 April, when FNB Wits host FNB UWC in the final of the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International. For FNB Wits, who have already achieved promotion into the Varsity Cup for 2017, claiming the title would be the icing on the cake.

The Johannesburg-based team maintain that they will give this fixture their best, despite the fact that their primary goal of promotion has been achieved. Giving their all is something they have done throughout the campaign, and it won’t stop here.

FNB UWC, who were also vying for promotion and were within touching distance of FNB Wits, had a role to play in the final outcome of the competition as hey halted FNB UKZN, defeating them 44-16 and handing the Kwazulu-Natal side their first loss of the season.

This was a blessing for FNB Wits, who then took it upon themselves to grab their opportunity when they faced FNB UWC. The Braam Boys earned promotion by earning the required points’ difference to pip FNB UKZN to the summit of the table even before they were docked points.

The home team will be hoping for a packed stadium in order to close off an amazing campaign in style. Supporters are encouraged to fill up the Wits Rugby Stadium in Braamfontein, joining the Braam Lion, who will undoubtedly be making an appearance for such a grand fixture.

This Varsity Shield Final will be televised on SuperSport 1 and kickoff is at 18:30.

FNB Wits team to face FNB UWC:

15 Luxolo Ntsepe, 14 Kwanele Ngema, 13 Joshua Jarvis, 12 Kyle Wesemann, 11 Sicelo Champions, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Ruan Cloete, 8 Constant Beckerling, 7 Conor Brockschmidt, 6 Ruan MacDonald, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Graham Logan, 3 Luvuyo Pupuma, 2 Cecil Conradie, 1 Tijde Visser

16 Craig Hume, 17 Ameer Williams, 18 Fraser Mitchell, 19 Ayabulela Mdudi, 20 Wian Coetzee, 21 Thato Marobela, 22 AJ van Blerk, 23 Brandon Palmer

MATCH PREVIEW: FNB UWC

It has been a hard graft for Chester Williams and his FNB UWC team this season. The players will feel battered and bruised, but proud of their efforts this season.

They finished in third place on the Varsity Shield log, but after FNB UKZN were docked points, they were bumped up to second and thus faced FNB UCT in a promotion-relegation battle on Monday 11 April before the Varsity Cup Final.

The side has shown gusto this season, particularly on the road – a fact that will encourage the men as they travel up north for the Varsity Shield Final in Johannesburg. FNB UWC have won three of their away matches in the Varsity Shield competition, including a 44-16 victory over FNB UKZN at Rand Stadium.

However, what will worry the Cape side, will be the fact that FNB Wits are the only side that they are yet to defeat this year. Two of their three losses have come at the hands of FNB Wits, and they have scored just 15 points to FNB Wits’ 102 in their two encounters.

But the Varsity Cup Final will bring Chester Williams’ men inspiration, after FNB Pukke defeated FNB Maties for the first time in nine years and the first time on FNB Maties’ home soil in the competition’s history.

The Varsity Shield Final looks done and dusted on paper, but as we saw in the Varsity Cup – that means very little.

The Varsity Shield Final kicks off at 18:30 on Monday 18 April and will be live on SuperSport 1.

FNB UWC team to face FNB Wits:

15 Jacquin Moses , 14 Gordon-Wayne Plaatjies, 13 Courtney Cupido, 12 Lubabalo Faleni, 11 Minenhle Mthethwa, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Clayton Daniels, 8 Matthew Faught, 7 Matthew le Roux, 6 Jeremy Papier, 5 Jose Julies, 4 Brandon Valentyn, 3 Tahriq Allen, 2 Peter Wanjiru, 1 Kelvin de Bruyn

16 Keenan Douw, 17 Wayron Losper, 18 Sabelo Dlamini, 19 Verno treu, 20 Matthew Nortje, 21 Malikhaya Wana, 22 Monre Lingeveldt, 23 Robin Paulse