Smith at fullback for Maties
Former FNB UJ stalwart André Smith will start his first Varsity Cup match for the FNB Maties, after being named at fullback for Monday's Round Three tussle with the FNB Shimlas in Stellenbosch.
Smith will take over the No.15 jersey from Ryan Nell, who has been moved to the right-wing, with Dean Hammond taking over the No.11 shirt from regular left-wing Tythan Adams.
In other changes to the Maties line-up which defeated the FNB NWU-Pukke earlier this week, Wessel Coetzee replaces the injured Stokkies Hanekom (ankle) at outside centre and veteran Donald Stevens will make his first start of the 2012 season at scrumhalf, with Boela Abrahams taking a break on the bench.
Up front, meanwhile, Tertius Daniller is back at No.8 after recovering from a shoulder injury and Gareth Light - who scored the winning try against the Pukke - will get a start at hooker, with Alfred Ries backing him up.
Rob Herring, who started the Maties' first two matches at hooker, gets a break this week, with Jarryd Buys and Clearance Khumalo joining the Maties' matchday 23 on the bench.
Giant prop Os Hamman will again be on the bench, having been a late addition to the Maties squad last week.
Maties coach Chean Roux has an embarrassment of riches in his front row this season, and he explained his thinking: "Alistair Vermaak has been in the Western Province set-up at times this season, so we're lucky to have him available and then we have Brummer Badenhorst backing him up.
"At tighthead we've got Hein van der Merwe and Os Hamman... so I think we're well covered!
"I've got a plan with a guy like Os - who I think has great potential - but he knows how and when I intend to use him, so everyone knows where they fit in."
The FNB Maties team: 15 André Smith, 14 Ryan Nell, 13 Wessel Coetzee, 12 Louis Jordaan, 11 Dean Hammand, 10 André Kemp, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Tertius Daniller, 7 Helmut Lehmann (captain), 6 Sam Mabombo, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Grant Hattingh, 3 Hein van der Merwe, 2 Gareth Light, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Alfred Ries, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 JP Swanepoel, 20 Boela Abrahams, 21 Jarryd Buys, 22 Clearance Khumalo, 23 Os Hamman.
Head coach: Chean Roux
Date: Monday, February 20
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Lesego 'Pro' Legoete
Assistant referees: Andrew Slater, François Pretorius
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