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Johannesburg - Pressure will be on the student rugby team of the North West University when they take on the University of Pretoria in Potchefstroom in a do-or-die Varsity Cup match at the Fanie du Toit Stadium on Monday.
NWU-Pukke, last year's semi-finalists, are yet to record a win in this edition of the FNB Varsity Cup and will have their work cut out against a Tuks squad that is as desperate to get their campaign back on track.
The NWU-Pukke side have it all to prove after a dismal performance against the University of Cape Town last week, losing 36-8. Tuks, on the other hand, know that if they are more disciplined in stickto their structures, they are capable of beating any team in the competition.
Tuks showed glimpses of what they can accomplish when they lost 34-46 to the Tswane University of Technology (TUT) at home last week.
Pukke, who have not failed to reach the play-offs of the competition since it started in 2008, were forced to make a few late changes to their team which sees Johan Oberholzer start at hooker with Christiaan Schoonraad moving down to the bench.
Tuks will be without suspended centre Jean du Plessis, but the most significant addition to the team is that of Blue Bulls scrumhalf Danie Faasen, who will partner-up with his provincial team mate Marnitz Boshoff.
It will also be interesting to see what effect injuries to eighthman Jono Ross and speedster Deon Helberg will have on the team.
Kick-off is at 19:00.
** The University of the Free State (Shimlas) travel to Johannesburg where they will look to build momentum after recording an empathic 21-15 win over tournament favourites Maties last week.
The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) have won both their opening matches of the competition, but have not been the most convincing side in the competition. Kick-off is at 19:00.
In the early match of the day TUT host defending champions Maties in Pretoria where they will look to repeat their performance of last week when they beat a star-studded Tuks outfit. (Kick-off 17:00).
The fourth match of the day is between the UCT Ikeys and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitain University in Cape Town.
After an impressive start to the season Ikeys should pose too tough a challenge for the Madibas, but there have been some great upsets in the opening two weeks that should give them some food for though.
