Koch blow for Pukke
FNB Pukke were dealt a body blow on Friday when it was revealed that experienced prop Jaco Koch would miss the rest of his team’s 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International campaign.
Koch has battled a back injury this season and it has flared up once again at a crucial stage of the Varsity Cup season.
He will be out of action for at least four weeks now, which means he will not be available for the business-end of the competition.
BG Uys will, as planned, start Monday’s match at loosehead prop against FNB UCT, with Dewald Coetzee providing cover on the bench.
Koch’s experience, however, will be sorely missed in a game that Pukke need to win with a four-try bonus point in order to secure a home semifinal.
FNB Pukke (revised): 15 Willem Barnard, 14 Andrew Van Wyk, 13 Wenstley Scott, 12 Wouter Watermeyer, 11 Randall April, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Andries Mahoney, 8 Willem van der Wal (captain), 7 Savvas Nel, 6 Jaco Lötter, 5 Markus Fourie, 4 Grant le Roux, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Stoffel Duvenage, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 Dewald Coetzee, 17 Lourens Botes, 18 Victor Kruger, 19 Thabo Molete, 20 Theuns Kotzé, 21 Dewan Eckard, 22 Lolo Waka.
Head coach: Rudy Joubert
Assistant coaches: Attie Strauss, Mervyn Taylor
Kick-off: Monday, March 16, 4.45pm, Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds
