Just one change for Maties
The FNB Maties have made just one change to their starting line-up ahead of Monday’s Varsity Cup Final against FNB UCT at Coetzenburg. (Kick-off 6.30pm.)
Head coach Chean Roux has wisely kept faith with 14 of the 15 starting players that helped the Maties beat Pukke 47-11 last Monday – with the only change seeing Johan Roets take over from Mike De Neuilly-Rice at loosehead prop.
De Neuilly-Rice drops down to the replacements bench where he will be joined by fit-again squad captain Cameron Peverett.
Loose forward Peverett missed the semifinal with an ankle injury, but he replaces Hannes van Wyk in the No.19 shirt – giving the back-to-back Varsity Cup champions even more firepower for Monday’s final at the Danie Craven Stadium.
Tighthead prop Lourens Adriaanse – who has been nominated as one of the Players of the Tournament – will, again, captain the Maties.
Stellenbosch, who beat UCT 16-10 in the inaugural final at this very venue in 2008, have not lost a Varsity Cup play-off match and are also unbeaten this season.
The FNB Maties team: 15 Adnaan Oesman, 14 Wilhelm Loock, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Charl Weideman, 11 Tythan Adams, 10 André Kemp, 9 Johan Herbst, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Sam Mabombo, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Andrew Prior, 3 Lourens Adriaanse (captain), 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 Gareth Light, 17 Mike De Neuilly-Rice, 18 Marinus Pretorius, 19 Cameron Peverett, 20 Johan Laker, 21 Hayden Groepes, 22 Jonathan Francke, 23 Andrew Crausaz.
Head coach: Chean Roux
Date: Monday, March 29
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm (Live on SuperSport One)
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
By Howard Kahn
