Nepgen to lead Maties once again

Lock Jaco Nepgen will lead the FNB Maties into battle against NMMU in Varsity Cup action this coming Monday afternoon, with regular captain and loose forward Wesley Wilkins still on the sidelines.

Wilkins will be rested by coach Chean Roux for the second week in succession, despite fellow loose forward JP Mostert being ruled out after being involved in a serious car accident earlier this week.

Cameron Peverett, Jonathan Adendorf and Chase Minnaar will line up in a more-than-capable back row, with Nepgen partnered in the second row by Marinus Pretorius.

Lourens Adriaanse is at tighthead prop this week - after Andrew Crauzar started at No.3 in Maties' 24-14 win over TUT last Monday - whilst Mathew Dobson and John Roets have been retained at hooker and loosehead prop, respectively.

In the backline, Adnaan Osman returns to fullback - from flyhalf - and Jason de Villiers will start in the No.10 shirt, with Coenie van Wyk playing for Western Province in the Vodacom Cup. Joining Van Wyk on WP duty this week are fellow Varsity Cup regulars Hayden Groepes, Morgan Newman and George Earle.

In other changes to the Maties backline this week, Paul Bosch is back - from the bench - at outside centre, with Jéan Stemmet shifting inside one place. In a final change, JJ Engelbrecht replaces Lwellyn Winkler on the left-wing, with the latter moving down to the bench.

FNB Maties: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Wilhelm Loock, 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Jéan Stemmet, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Jason de Villiers, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Cameron Peverett, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Chase Minnaar, 5 Jaco Nepgen (captain), 4 Marinus Pretorius, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Mathew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 JP Koster, 17 Mike De Neuilly-Rice, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Morné Hanekom, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Dabeon Draghoender, 22 Lwellyn Winkler.

Head coach: Chean Roux
Assistant coach: Warren Adams

Kick-off: Monday, March 9, 4.45pm, Danie Craven Stadium