Koster to start for Maties

Ikeys vs Maties – always a cracker! (pictured, UCT’s Danie vd Merwe, now Boland Cavaliers, gives chase in last year’s final) -Photo Megan Morris
Ex-Ikey Tigers hooker JP Koster who left the club last year, to join Stellenbosch will face his former team-mates when University of Cape Town (UCT) kick off the Varsity Cup against Maties on Monday, February 2.

Maties have also secured the services of one of last year’s Varsity Cup stand-outs – Pukke centre Paul Bosch who came to the Cape to trial with WP and former SK Walmers flyhalf Adnaan Osman, both will feature in Monday’s clash – Osman on the bench.

The Ikeys beloved arch rivals are again captained by flank Wesley Wilkens who is joined in the back row by Western Province Currie Cup opensider Conraad Britz  and eighthman Morné Hanekom and will face UCT captain and new US Eagles cap JJ Gagiano in what promises to be a great battle at the breakdown.

It couldn’t be a more dramatic start to the tournament as Monday’s clash is a repeat of the “down to the wire”  2008 final at Coetzenburg, when Stellenbosch scored a try in injury time to burgle the  trophy for the inaugural FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, winning the game 16-10.
 

Maties: 15 Hayden Groepes, 14 Wilhelm Looch, 13 Dabeon Draghoender, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Llewellyn Winkler, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Morné Hanekom, 7 Wesley Wilkens (captain), 6 Conraad Britz, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Marinus Pretorius, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 JP Koster, 1 Johan Roets.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Andrew Crusauz, 18 Erich Loubscher, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Kosie Eksteen, 21 Jean Stemmet, 22 Adnaan Osman.

Monday, February 2 fixtures at UCT:
University of Fort Hare v UWC, 12.45pm (friendly)
Shimlas v NMMU, 2.45pm
UCT v Maties, 4.45pm

What do you think? Will JP Koster be worth Maties investment?