WP injection for defending champs
FNB Maties have named a host of Western Province squad members in their starting line-up for Monday's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International opener against NMMU.
Fullback Jurgen Visser, centre Stokkies Hanekom, scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann, flanker Boetie Britz, lock Rynardt Elsteadt and replacement hooker Callie Visagie have all trained with WP (and the Stormers) this season, but now find themselves on Varsity Cup duty for the defending champions.
Tighthead prop Lourens Adriaanse will captain this Maties team - in the absence of injured 2010 skipper Cameron Peverett (rib) - and he will once again form a powerful front row with last season's regulars; hooker Matthew Dobson and loosehead prop Mike De Neuilly-Rice.
"We've lost some experienced players from last season - like Donald Stevens, Wesley Wilkins and Jaco Nepgen, yet we're able to call upon Conrad (Hoffmann), Boetie (Britz) and Rynardt (Elsteadt) to replace them - we're pretty fortunate," Adriaanse told varsitycup.co.za.
Looking ahead to the start of the season - as his team looks to secure a remarkable third successive Varsity Cup title - the powerhouse prop added: "The past two seasons have shown that in order to win the Varsity Cup you need to beat the Maties - we know it and it spurs us on.
"There is no doubt that NMMU will be up for this game... it's a match they've been training for since the 2010 Varsity Cup schedule was first announced."
The FNB Maties team: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Dabeon Draghoender, 11 Thythan Adams, 10 Hayden Groepes, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Tertius Daniller, 7 JP Mostert, 6 Boetie Britz, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Rynardt Elsteadt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse (captain), 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Mike De Neuilly-Rice.
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Johan Roets, 18 Andrew Prior, 19 Josh Strauss, 20 Johan Laker, 21 Stephan van der Merwe, 22 Jonathan Francke, 23 Buhle Mxunuywa.
Head coach: Chean Roux (pictured, above right)
Date: Monday, February 1
Venue: Xerox NMMU Stadium
Kick-off: 4.30pm
Referee: Mlungiseli Mdashe