Maties move Wilkins to No.8

FNB Maties captain Wesley Wilkins will start in the No.8 jersey when the defending champions travel to Bloemfontein to take on FNB Shimlas in Varsity Cup action at Shimla Park on Monday evening.

Wilkins will start in the back row alongside JP Mostert (No.7) and Chase Minnaar (No.6), with Morné Hanekom dropping out this week. In other changes up front, Matthew Dobson will start at hooker, with former UCT player JP Koster moving down to the bench.

In the backline, Adnaan Osman comes in for Hayden Groepes at fullback and Stormers and WP squad man Morgan Newman will start ahead of Jean Stemmet in the No.13 jersey.

Groepes drops down to the bench as one of three backs amongst the replacements, joining Jonathan Adendorf and Koos Eksteen - both of whom started on the bench against UJ in FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International action last Monday night.

Whilst many would expect the defending champions to start as favourites for Monday's meeting with the Shimlas, Maties coach Chean Roux warned: "The intensity of this year's tournament has been incredible. All the teams have prepared a lot better this year (compared to 2008).

"There are no easy games as all the teams have realised just what is at stake in this fantastic competition."

FNB Maties: 15 Adnaan Osman, 14 Morné Jooste, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Lwellyn Winkler, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Wesley Wilkins (captain), 7 JP Mostert, 6 Chase Minnaar, 5 Jaco Nepgenm, 4 Marinus Pretorius, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 JP Koster, 17 Andrew Crausaz, 18 Jéan Rossouw, 19 Erich Laubscher, 20 Jonathan Adendorf, 21 Hayden Groepes, 22 Koos Eksteen.

Head coach: Chean Roux
Assistant coach: Warren Adams

Kick-off: Monday, February 16, 6.45pm, Shimla Park