Pumas need a fast start

The Pumas will require a fast start if they are to end their three match losing streak when they host the Bulls at the Mbombela Stadium.

Mbombela has been a fortress for the Nelspruit side in the Currie Cup having not lost a match at that venue until they came unstuck against Western Province.

Coach Jimmy Stonehouse is looking to his experienced players to rub off on the rest of the squad in order for them to overcome a Bulls outfit who are starting to find their feet.

"We need to nullify personal errors which cost us badly in the 1st half and forced us to play catch-up [against WP]. The players' nerves got the better of them and that's our main concern at the moment.

"We definitely lacking experience but it will take some time for the players to learn from it. In this situation [with the semifinals in sight], you need that four or five players who have been there before to rub off on the rest of the group and help them along," he said.

Stonehouse will be looking to his players to replicate their second half performances against the Lions and WP throughout the Bulls match which will see them play a more consistent game.

"If we can play from the first half in every match, like we play the second half, there wont be a need to play catch-up,  our mistakes will be a lot less and we would will put the opposition under a lot of pressure," he added.

It's going to be a high stakes game as a single point seperates the sides on the log and a loss for either side could potentially knock them out of contention for a semifinal berth.

"The stakes of the game is very high because the loser can consider themselves out of the competition, so we need to beat them [the Bulls].

"Suddenly the game we lost against Griquas could count against us but we have to win to keep our hopes high for a spot in the semifinals," he stated.

By Tauriq Ebrahim