Intervarsity teams announced
FNB Maties and FNB UCT have both announced powerful starting line-ups for Saturday afternoon's mouth-watering Intervarsity clash at Newlands.
Stellenbosch head coach Chean Roux has retained the core of his FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International-winning squad, but he has introduced the likes of scrumhalf Henoe Stoffberg and loose forward Bennie Booysen to supplement his squad.
Varsity Cup fullback, the exciting Adnaan Osman, will continue at flyhalf, having started in the No.10 shirt in last week's crushing 67-0 WP Super League win over Kraaifontein.
Meanwhile, UCT coach John Dobson also announced a host of Varsity Cup players in his starting XV, along with a sprinkling of more experienced stars - especially up front.
Dave Edgar and Tim Whitehead - both of whom did not feature in the Varsity Cup - continue at centre, whilst up front German international Bodo Sieber is back in the second row and strong-running No.8 Jody Burch will again start at the back of the scrum, with Varsity Cup skipper JJ Gagiano in the No.6 jersey.
Edgar, Sieber and Burch were all too old for the 2009 Varsity Cup, whilst Whitehead missed the tournament because of a serious groin injury.
Robbie Fleck, UCT's assistant coach, told varsitycup.co.za: "Maties-Ikeys Intervarsity games are always fantastic occasions and it's great for the players to be playing at Newlands (this year).
"Stellenbosch are almost at full-strength, we're pretty close to our strongest side - except with Martin Muller and Tiger Bax on Stormers duty - and there is plenty to play for in terms of qualifying for the Club champs in September," he added.
"Maties are first on the log and we're in third place, so the winner of this game could just take a step closer to qualifying for the National Club Championships."
Kick-off is at 4pm, with the Stormers-Force clash getting underway at 7.10pm.
Tickets for Saturday - for the Intervarsity and Super 14 game - are on sale and can be bought from the Newlands Rugby Stadium Box office and through Computicket, Shoprite Checkers and Checkers Hyperstores countrywide. (The match will also be televised, albeit delayed, on SuperSport.)
The teams:
FNB Maties: 15 Jonathan Francke, 14 Morné Jooste, 13 Hayden Groepes, 12 Jean Stemmet, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Adnaan Osman, 9 Henoe Stoffberg, 8 Bennie Booysen, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Wesley Wilkins, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Bertho van der Westhuizen (captain), 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 Arno White, 17 Gerrit Jacobs, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Morné Hanekom, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 Pieter Stoffberg, 22 Louw Schabort.
FNB UCT: 15 Therlow Pietersen, 14 Pieter Engelbrecht, 13 Dave Edgar, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Matthew Rosslee, 9 Jean-Paul Robert, 8 Jody Burch, 7 Nick Fenton-Wells, 6 Jonathan Gagiano, 5 Bodo Sieber (captain), 4 Michael Passaportis, 3 Herbert Mayosi, 2 Dayne Jans, 1 Dylan Rogers.
Replacements: 16 Mark Goosen, 17 Vakai Hove, 18 Dane Galley, 19 Don Armand, 20 Kyle Wickins, 21 Enoch Panya, 22 Sean van Tonder.