2009-9-16
New-look Valke for Elephants
RobAndrew_1

A new-look Valke side will travel down to Port Elizabeth to challenge the Elephants in their back yard. The engine room has been overhauled with the young UJ enforcer Rob Andrew and the talented Bosman Grobler at lock.

Andrew is a young lock in the Johann Ackermann and Bakkies Botha mould who played Varsity Cup rugby for the UJ, Vodacom Cup for the Lions and represented the SA Universities against the American Collegiates.

In the mix with Andrew is another UJ and Lions warrior Torrie Meyer at number eight with another Puma, flanker Francois van Wijk partnering captain Bovril de Bruin, who moves back to the side of the scrum.

Van Wyk is one of five Puma players on loan in the Starting XV.

Fullback Jannie van der Merwe, now playing his rugby out of Witbank is a former Valke Under 21 player, Christiaan Els have played for both the Leopards and Pumas, Grobler has played provincial rugby for the Pumas and prop Sean Johnson has also donned the grey Pumas strip.

The pack has a new and solid look about it with five new Valke in it.

Coach Kyle Condon has surprised with centre Corné Uys at scrumhalf and Anthony Klonaridis at inside centre.

Klonaridis, Van der Merwe and flyhalf Martin Thomsen all all products of the Valke’s junior system.

Valke vs. Elephants: Jannie van der Merwe; Wensley Mbanje, Christiaan Els, Anthony Klonaridis, Theo Rhodes; Martin Thomsen, Corné Uys; Torrie Meyer, Francois van Wijk, Bovril de Bruin ©, Bosman Grobler, Rob Andrew, Louwtjie Grobler, Tango Gatya, Sean Johnson. Reserves: Jaques George, Philip Nel, Quintin Petzer, Wihan Roos, Ruan Duvenhage, Velly Radebe, GD Kotzé.