RECAP: Golden Lions v Pumas
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to the live blogging of the first round Currie Cup match between the Golden Lions and Pumas at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
Golden Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen named a team featuring a good mix of young players who have made a strong statement in the last two seasons and experienced players, with Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje leading their charge.
The Pumas, under the captaincy of Ryan Nell (centre), features nine players who started in the Challenge final, which will give them confidence going into the clash.
Recent results:
2018: Golden Lions won 33-21, Nelspruit
2017: Golden Lions won 29-28, Johannesburg
2017: Pumas won 43-36, Nelspruit
2016: Golden Lions won 68-26, Johannesburg
2015: Golden Lions won 41-11, Nelspruit
Prediction: Golden Lions
Margin: Seven
Don’t miss this week’s podcast, as @rugby365com has an EXCLUSIVE one-on-one with Western Province coach John Dobson!
Our live blog will appear below, it might take a little while to load, please be patient. We apologise for the inconvenience!
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 James Venter, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Jan-Louis la Grange.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Morne Joubert, 13 Neil Maritz, 12 Ryan Nell (captain), 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Jacobus Marais, 9 Reynier van Rooyen, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Hermanus Carel du Preez, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Stefan Willemse, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Cornelius Els, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Ashlon Davids, 21 Christopher Smith, 22 Henko Marais, 23 Morgan Naude.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Eduan Nel
TMO: Lesego Legoete
