Maties take the Hoffmann route
FNB Maties coach Chean Roux has, as was suggested earlier this week, handed the No.10 shirt to utility back Conrad Hoffmann in the absence of Hayden Groepes. The defending champions will, of course, play UJ in Johannesburg on Monday evening.
Hoffmann, who started his team’s first two matches at scrumhalf, is considered to be a realistic flyhalf option by the Western Province and Stormers coaches and his selection at No.10 will be music to Rassie Erasmus and company’s ears.
The WP prodigy will partner Johan Herbst at halfback, with Groepes – as was reported on this website earlier in the week – missing out against UJ because of an injury.
In some good news for the Maties, however; Dabeon Draghoender – who was also in doubt at one stage this week – has been passed fit and he will start at inside centre for the defending champions.
Elsewhere in the Maties line-up, Mike De Neuilly-Rice returns at loosehead prop, with Johan Roets dropping to the bench (as they continue to rotate their looseheads), and André Kemp will provide scrumhalf cover after Herbst’s promotion to the starting XV.
Tighthead prop Lourens Adriaanse will, again, skipper the Maties team in the absence of 2010 captain Cameron Peverett.
Peverett will be playing for a Maties XV against George Rugby Club this weekend with an eye to making his return against Shimlas on February 22.
Looking ahead to Monday, Roux told varsitycup.co.za: “It’s a daunting prospect – making the trip to Johannesburg to play against UJ – as we’ve never played them (UJ) up there.
“But we’re looking forward to the challenge and will stick to our aim of trying to win every game that we play in the Varsity Cup.”
The FNB Maties team: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Dabeon Draghoender, 11 Tythan Adams, 10 Conrad Hoffmann, 9 Johan Herbst, 8 Tertius Daniller, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Sam Mabombo, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Andrew Prior, 3 Lourens Adriaanse (captain), 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Mike De Neuilly-Rice.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Crausaz, 17 Johan Roets, 18 Marinus Pretorius, 19 Josh Strauss, 20 André Kemp, 21 Stephan van der Merwe, 22 Jonathan Francke, 23 Buhle Mxunuywa.
Head coach: Chean Roux
Date: Monday, February 15
Venue: UJ Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Referee: Ben Crouse
