It's official: Helmut's in charge
It might seem obvious - given that he was present at last week's lavish Varsity Cup launch at Blair Atholl - but FNB Maties coach Chean Roux has confirmed that flanker Helmut Lehmann will skipper the Men in Maroon in 2012.
The tough-as-nails flanker captained the Western Province Under-21 team last season and will add another impressive notch to his captaincy CV when the fifth FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International kicks-off next Monday.
"He's a quiet guy," Roux told varsitycup.co.za, when asked about his new captain, "but he leads from the front!
"In many ways, he reminds of [former Springbok captain] Corné Krige. For starters, he doesn't say much on the field, but he's always at the bottom of every ruck... and he's always bleeding."
Lehmann, 21, looks set to team up with up with Sam Mabombo (flank) and Tertius Daniller (No.8) in a new-look Maties loose trio - a unit that will no doubt be the envy of every other university in the Varsity Cup.
Said Roux: "Balance-wise, perhaps we're short an extra jumper in that loose trio, but having two fetchers gives a nice vibe as to how we'd like to play this year."
The Maties, Varsity Cup champions for three years in succession between 2008 and 2010, missed out on the semifinals last year - as well as failing to defend their WP Super League title later in 2011.
To say that the Men from Stellenbosch are hungry would be an understatement of epic proportions.
"I can't wait for the tournament to start," admitted Roux. "It feels like pre-season has been going on forever already!
"A game week brings shorter practices and thus more focused sessions and the guys are also very excited for next Monday [February 6]."
The FNB Maties will start their 2012 campaign against the FNB TUT Vikings at the Danie Craven Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7pm.
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