Centre curse strikes Maties again

The FNB Maties will go into next Monday's top-of-the-log Varsity Cup clash against FNB UCT with yet another new centre pairing, following an injury to inside centre Stephan van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe - in only his second Varsity Cup start - picked up an arm injury, which looks to be a fracture, and he will join first-choice pairing Dabeon Draghoender and Stokkies Hanekom on the sidelines next week.

"It's our fifth big injury at centre," revealed Maties head coach Chean Roux in conversation with varsitycup.co.za.

"We're going to have to make a few changes, and shuffle things around in the backline, but at least it gives somebody (new) an opportunity to put their hand up."

His bad luck in the midfield aside, Roux had some great news about his forward resources; with hooker Matthew Dobson, prop Mike De Neuilly-Rice and lock Hugo Kloppers all returning to training this week - after missing Monday's 64-17 demolition of Tukkies.

"It gives me a (selection) headache up front," conceded Roux, "but it's a nice headache to have!"

Whilst "chuffed" with Monday's huge win over Tuks - a side who have been something of a bogey side to Maties during previous Varsity Cup league campaigns - Roux was not reading too much into the final score.

He added: "I think it was more a case of playing the conditions better. Tuks wouldn't have seen wind like that - except if they had been playing at UCT!

"It [the wind] makes a difference and I think from that point of view the scoreline flattered us a bit. Tuks are not a bad side and I actually thought we were not very good in the first half.

"I was, however, pleased with our performance at the start of the second half - the guys really came out firing and showed a lot of intensity."

* Monday's Maties-UCT match, at the Danie Craven Stadium, will kick-off at 8.30pm and will be televised live on SuperSport One.