Nico Malan gears up for Die Brandwag challenge

After some relatively comfortable results in recent matches, Nico Malan and Die Brandwag are gearing up for a contest of far higher intensity in Humansdorp at 13:30 on Saturday.

The home side has impressed this season and they’re coming off big wins over DF Malherbe (50-5) and HTS Daniel Pienaar (38-8), but they will be only too well aware of the threat they face from the Kariega outfit.

Heine Erasmus‘s Brandwag side has topped 50 points in their last three matches, culminating in them overwhelming the hapless DF Malherbe 109-0.

The clash in Humansdorp will have the coach calling for his charges to focus strongly on the basics of the game and to limit their errors as they attempt to withstand the challenge that Nico Malan will undoubtedly pose.

This game looms as an important one for Nico Malan in defining their season because they have been on a good run in the past few months, scoring solid victories over Pearson and Marlow while losing by only a single point to Graeme College in Makhanda.

If they can get one past the strong Brandwag outfit, who have not lost since the Oakdale Festival at the end of March, it will put them in the right frame of mind for their remaining matches against Punt, in Mossel Bay, and Framesby.

In Kariega, both Muir College and Grey High will be aiming to pick themselves up after suffering heavy defeats last weekend – Muir falling 3-62 against Brandwag and Grey losing 15-46 against Bloem powerhouse, Grey College.

The Grey team shows a number of changes, but they still have the depth to make it a long day for Muir, with players such as Meyer Prinsloo, Noah Mbizi, and Bradley Myburgh, if given any attacking space, sure to pose serious problems for the home team.

After being competitive in their first match this season against Brandwag, which they lost 10-26, Muir was given a rude awakening last week. They will need to be on point against Grey, who have yet to fire on all cylinders this season.

In another fixture in Kariega, Marlow will be hoping their players have recovered from a tummy bug which swept through the school during the week. They take on the challenge of Bergsig.

Teams:

Nico Malan vs Die Brandwag in Humansdorp on Saturday at 13:30

Nico Malan: 15 Regan Stone, 14 Kobus Strydom, 13 Gelden van Niekerk, 12 Enzo Machaba, 11 Tequane Koopman, 10 Leighton Lawrence, 9 Lleyton Mienie, 8 Pietman Kleinhans (captain), 7 Chrisjan de Lange, 6 Neil Lategan, 5 Ruben van Dijk, 4 Ulrich van Zyl, 3 Waldo Krige, 2 MC Ferreira, 1 Janu Janse van Rensburg.

Brandwag: 15 Wendell Uithaler, 14 Rezanio Petrus, 13 Angelo Adams, 12 Derono Potgieter (captain), 11 Dwayne Louw, 10 Leewin Kammies, 9 Keeran Kayster, 8 Duane Meyer, 7 Erik Rudman, 6 Nathan Fraser, 5 Damian le Roux, 4 Hanre Oberholzer, 3 Francu Fouche, 2 Liam Erasmus, 1 Zandre van der Mescht.

Muir College vs Grey High in Kariega on Saturday at 14:15

Grey High: 15 Meyer Prinsloo, 14 Noah Mbizi, 13 Bradley Myburgh, 12 Ciaran Killian, 11 Michael Oosthuizen, 10 Adam Holmboe, 9 Ray-Dylan Wilkinson, 8 Sibonelo Stuurman, 7 Jean Nel, 6 Blake Parker, 5 Osvaldas Diedonis, 4 Riley Higgs, 3 Ross Atkinson, 2 Evan Mucka, 1 Silindezihle Ntshokoma.

Muir College: 15 Lusapho Mtwa, 14 Siyahluma Ralo, 13 Onke Marola (captain), 12 Oyama Jama, 11 Buhle Rale, 10 Anzo Daniels, 9 Romano Richards, 8 Khwezi Mafongosi, 7 Riahaan Kayat (vice-captain), 6 Kamvelihle Poyo, 5 Zingisa Mdidimba, 4 Liyabukwa Zokwana, 3 Sithenkosi Mgobo, 2 Sonwabe Matika, 1 Nu’maan Jappie.