Comets eager to bounce back in Kimberley

The Comets would have felt disappointed after a narrow 40-36 loss to FNB UWC in their second match of this year’s competition last week, and despite that result they will be confident they can get their campaign back to winning ways.

They come up against an SPU team that have impressed in their first two matches in the competition. The team from the Northern Cape won their opening match and then narrowly lost to CPUT in their second game.

Comets head coach Jeremy McLaren understands that it will be a difficult task in Kimberley and the SPU fans won’t make it easy for them.

“It’s not easy playing in Kimberley, but luckily we’ve been here with the university sevens so a few of our guys have been here before,” McLaren said.

“The crowd will definitely be behind them, and I think that’s what was missing when they lost to CPUT last week. There was a lot of rain here so there wasn’t a big crowd.

“They’ll definitely have their crowd out in force again this week, so we’ll have to contend with the noise.”

For McLaren it’s going to be crucial that his side remain in their bubble rather than letting external factors influence them.

“We have to be good in the areas that we can control and make sure we eliminate the noise in our heads and not let the crowd become a factor.

“It’s important that we concentrate on what we can do well.”

Heading into the match, the Comets have been able to get an idea of how SPU will play, and the head coach is not underestimating the newcomers to the Varsity Shield.

“They play with a lot of flair and aren’t the same team that we have seen in the last two years so we are going to have control what we can.

“It’s going to be a tough game with the energy that they have, and they were unlucky to lose to CPUT last week as well.

“We are going to have to make sure that we are strong in our basics and at set pieces,” the Comets coach said.

The Comets have welcomed back two important players for this week’s clash as Juan Steyl makes his first start for the Comets this season.

Nkazimulo Mzolo will also start his first match of the campaign after he was ruled out just before the first match of the competition.

The two players played vital roles in getting the VC Comets to the final of the FNB Varsity Shield in 2024 and will be important players going forward.

It’s a fairly settled side heading to Kimberely and apart from the two returning players Reece Curtin gets his first start for the Comets. He comes into the second row in a swap with Garren Muller who shifts to the bench.

The Comets will be without flank Lifa Ncwana as the impressive Khumo Nkutha shifts from number eight to flank.

Varsity College Comets v FNB SPU:

1. Ox Meyiwa, 2. Jacques Marais, 3. Danie van Huizen, 4. Robert Everson, 5. Reece Curtin, 6. Khumo Nkutha, 7. Enzo van Niekerk, 8. Juan Steyl, 9. Abande Mthembu (cc), 10. Drico Marx, 11. Nkazimulo Mzolo, 12. Mambo Mkhize, 13. Anwill Prins, 14. Edward Siguake, 15. Chandler Green

Impact Players:

16. Thabo Njapha, 17. Donell Francis, 18. Bradley Moroney ,19. Garren Muller, 20. Jonathan Horak, 21. Dylan Beukes, 22. MJ Schoeman, 23. Allston Cedras.