Pumas bring out the big guns for Cheetahs
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse has brought back his big guns for the crucial Currie Cup Round 13 encounter with the Cheetahs on Saturday.
The team shows 11 changes from that which lost 26-33 to the Bulls in a midweek fixture.
Among the players returning are hard-working forwards like Willie Engelbrecht, Simon Westraadt and Shane Kirkwood.
The halfback pairing of scrumhalf Ginter Smuts and Eddie Fouche (No.10) are also back to drive the game.
Fleet-footed fullback Devon Williams return in one of six changes in the backline.
Right wing Sebastián de Klerk is the only back to retain his place.
Among the forwards, bruisers like Phumzile Maqondwana and Marné Coetzee will back up from this past Wednesday’s outing.
The team will again be captained by the regular skipper and lock Pieter van Vuuren – the fourth player to retain his place in the starting XV.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastián de Klerk, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Matt More, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter van Vuuren (captain), 4 Shane Kirkwood, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Dewald Maritz.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ettiene Janeke, 18 Ignatius Prinsloo, 19 Kwanda Dimaza, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.
Date: Saturday, August 21
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 11.45 (09.45 GMT)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Quinton Immelman
* Picture credit: Hennie Homann
