Talented Odendaal moved to centre for Wits' FNB Varsity Shield opener |
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January 28 – Ryan Odendaal, stocky hooker-cum-flank, will run out at centre in the FNB Varsity Shield opener between FNB Wits and the FNB CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein on Monday night.
But it would pay the defending champions of Bloemfontein not to take the former Golden Lions Sevens player lightly. He was after all noticed by Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu at the provincial Sevens tournament, and has speed and skills to augment his stocky frame in what could prove to be a very shrewd moves by Wits coach Andy Royle.
The Witsies will be without last year’s captain and hooker Rory Anderson who was injured in the warm-up against Tukkies and flank Thato Mavundla. Lock Katlego Ntsie will lead the side on Monday night. On the flank Ruaan Noeth, who was selected but withdrawn because of a shoulder injury sustained against Tukkies, has been replaced by Sam Peters.
** Wits lost to CUT in last year’s Varsity Shield final. CUT were in turn denied promotion by TUT in an extra time promotion/relegation match in which 13 tries were scored. This year, however, the winner of the Varsity Shield will automatically move up to the high-profile Varsity Cup competition with their Under-20 side that will compete in the Young Guns series that is being introduced this season.
Kick-off is at 5pm for Monday night’s match which will be televised on SS1.
The FNB Wits team for the match is:
15 Blake Dismore, 14 Nkuli Gamede, 13 Heinke Hartdegen, 12 Ryan Odendaal, 11 Riaan Arends, 10 Kyle Peyper, 9 Brent Crossley (vice-capt.), 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Charles Baggot, 6 Sam Peters, 5 Katlego Ntsie (capt.), 4 Rinus Bothma, 3 Oliver Rochat, 2 Tyrell Tintinger, 1 Katlego Kgama.
Replacements: 16 Piers Coopers, 17 Phaka Zuma, 18 Pieter van Biljon, 19 Devin Montgomery, 20 Josh Dubach, 21 Bronson Lange, 22 Zunaid Kock, 23 Juandre Kirkham.
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