Madibaz make strategic changes

The FNB NMMU Madibaz have opted to make strategic wholesale changes to their side to face FNB UJ in Port Elizabeth on Monday night, after their 40 - 13 defeat to FNB UCT in Cape Town earlier this week. 

The bulk of the 23-man squad will remain more or less the same, but we will see some rotational changes as only six players keep their starting positions.

"Although we put in a good effort earlier this week, we were weaker than UCT on the night and some changes had to be made," said Madibaz head coach David Maidza.

The only unchanged positions to the backline are, captain and fullback Jarryd Buys, right wing Tythan Adams and inside centre Devon Lailvaux. Unchanged positions up front are vice captian and flank CJ Velleman, locks Rob Louw and Paul Tyler and prop Arno Ebersohn.

Changes to the backline sees, Yamkela Ngam returning to the starting xv replacing Brian Skosana on the wing, who returns to the bench. Michael Bernardt replaces Andile Jho at outside centre, Steven Hansel and Ivan Ludick replaces Ruan Allerston and Daniel Acker at flyhalf and scrumhalf respectively.

Up front, eighthman Andisa Ntsila takes over from Ivan-John du Preez, Jody Reneke replaces Stephen Zaayman on the flank and Warrick Venter and Brendan Olivier replaces Dane van der Westerhuizen and Steven Robesson at hooker and prop.

Rudolph Odendaal also returns to the bench after recovering from a knock to his shin.

In response to their loss against Ikeys on Monday night, Maidza said the team had been working consistently to improve their form ahead of the next game.
 
“We have to work on our attack strategy for the next game and just keep pushing to see results.”
 
Maidza said he was confident that the Madibaz squad were preparing well ahead of Monday’s match.
 
“UJ will definitely be tough opposition, without a shadow of a doubt. But we just have to back ourselves and make sure our accuracy and discipline are top notch. If we do that, we should decrease our errors by at least 30 per cent and be well-placed.”

Kick-off will be at 7pm.

FNB NMMU Madibaz:

15 Jarryd Buys (c) 14 Tythan Adams 13 Michael Bernardt 12 Devon Lailvaux 11 Yamkela Ngam 10 Steven Hansel 9 Ivan Ludick 8 Andisa Ntsila 7 Jody Reyneke 6 CJ Velleman (vc) 5 Rob Louw 4 Paul Tyler 3 Brendan Olivier 2 Warrick Venter 1 Arno Ebersohn

Replacements:

16 Dane van der Westerhuizen 17 Steven Robesson 18 Rudolph Odendaal 19 Stephen Zaayman 20 Daniel Acker 21 Andile Jho 22 Brian Skosana 23 Marzuq Maarman.