'Wilkins can play Super 14 rugby' - Roux
Just a week after making his Currie Cup debut for Griquas against the Blue Bulls, Varsity Cup-winning Maties captain Wesley Wilkins is now set to make his first start in the competition - the first step in the right direction, according to his Stellenbosch coach.
Wilkins earned his Currie Cup spurs off the bench in Pretoria last Saturday, but has now been handed the No.6 jersey ahead of his new team's must-win clash against the defending champion Sharks in Kimberley.
"It's a great opportunity for Wesley," Maties coach Chean Roux told varsitycup.co.za.
"I believe he has got the potential to become a fine Currie Cup rugby player and I've said before if he were to join a professional set-up, and stop working and concentrate on rugby only, he could (even) go on to play Super 14 rugby too."
Having been up against the likes of Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann and Pedrie Wannenburg last weekend, Wilkins will on Saturday go head-to-head with Springbok No.8 Ryan Kankowski, youngster Michael Rhodes and the exciting Keegan Daniel, with Emerging Bok Jean Deysel lurking on the Sharks bench.
Wilkins captained Maties in the inaugural Varsity Cup last year, but he missed the final - against UCT - due to an ankle injury. He was, however, at the helm earlier this year when the Maties won their second successive Varsity Cup - beating Pukke 11-6 in another hard-fought final in Stellenbosch.
The 24-year-old loose forward will not return to Stellenbosch next season, but it is not known whether or not he has penned a full-time deal with Griquas as yet.
One certainty, however, is that Wilkins will not be the only Maties Old Boy in the Griquas team this weekend.
"I guess you could say that Griquas are resembling something of a Maties Koshuis team these days," chuckled Roux.
"Aside from Wesley and (scrumhalf) Donald Stevens, (lock) Jaco Nepgen is also there and I believe (flyhalf) Coenie van Wyk and (centre) PJ Vermeulen are also on their way there next season.
"Like I said, it's a great opportunity for Wesley to make his first start, but I am also very excited by Jaco's potential," added the Maties mentor.
"I've actually been meaning to phone (Cheetahs coach) Naka Drotské - he needs to take a look at Jaco in the Super 14, or at least put him in his pre-season squad, he could develop into a fine lock."
The Griquas team: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Wesley Wilkins, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Cecil Kemp, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dries Kruger, 17 Drew van Coller, 18 Brendon Snyman, 19 Rohan Kitshoff/Heinrich Stride, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 Wilmaure Louw, 22 Gavin Passens.
Kick-off: 3pm - Saturday, October 10