Maties 'go heavy' for Tuks fixture
FNB Maties coach Chean Roux has opted for a front row-loaded bench for his side’s Varsity Cup semifinal against Tuks at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Monday.
The teams will square off in a repeat of last year’s FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International semifinal, in which the Stellenbosch outfit eventually won 47-44, in extra-time.
Back-up hooker JP Koster, props Andrew Crausaz and Jean Rossouw are likely to be used as impact players, while Eric Laubscher will provide cover at lock and loose forward.
Maties will also have a new-look second row in Hugo Kloppers and Marinus Pretorius.
Morné Jooste – who scored the winning try in last year’s final – returns to the starting line-up on the right-wing, while Johan Sadie moves into the flyhalf position and Jason de Villiers drops down to the bench.
FNB Maties: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Morné Jooste, 13 Jéan Stemmet, 12 Dabeon Draghoender, 11 Wilhelm Loock, 10 Johan Sadie, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Cameron Peverett, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Wesley Wilkins (captain), 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Marinus Pretorius, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 JP Koster, 17 Andrew Crausaz, 18 Jean Rossouw, 19 Eric Laubscher, 20 Morné Hanekom, 21 Johan Herbst, 22 Lwellyn Winkler.
Head coach: Chean Roux
Assistant coach: Warren Adams
Kick-off: Monday, March 23, 6.45pm – Danie Craven Stadium (Stellenbosch)
