Herne starts for Pumas in catfight
Hooker gets a spot in starting line-up after playing from the bench in each of their previous nine Currie Cup fixtures.
Herne has scored three tries from the bench this season and is a vital cog in the side’s driving mauls.
Herne acted as Marko Janse van Rensburg and Mark Pretorius’ understudy so far in this campaign but gets his opportunity with Pretorius off with a hamstring injury.
Flank Lambert Groenewald also had to be replaced due to a shoulder injury.
Brian Shabangu, who started from the bench recently, has also been called up to the starting line-up.
Their top try-scorers in the competition are Mark Pretorius, Khwezi Mona, Trompie Pretorius and Ruwellyn Isbell on four each.
Flank Francois Kleynhans has also been named on the bench after recovering from a head injury.
The backs however, remains unchanged.
Pumas: 15 Justin van Staden, 14 Jerome Pretorius, 13 Gerrit Smith, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (captain), 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Brian Shabangu, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Stefan Willemse, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Frankie Herne, 1 Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Cameron Lindsay, 19 Fancois Kleinhans, 20 Hilton Lobberts, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Selom Gavor
Date: Friday, September 22
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.30 (15.30 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Jaco Kotze, Eon van Zyl
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe
