Pumas tweak backline for WP clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse has tweaked his backline for Friday’s crucial Currie Cup clash with Western Province at Newlands.
Henko Marais drops out of the midfield this week with captain Ryan Nell shifting from inside centre to outside centre.
Alwayno Visagie is promoted to the starting XV from the bench and takes over the No.13 jersey.
Ruwellyn Isbell comes into the matchday 23 to provide backline cover on the bench.
There are no changes to the forward pack that started in the 27-20 win over the Sharks in Nelspruit last weekend.
The Pumas are fifth in the Currie Cup standings with one win from their four games, while Province are fourth with one win from three games.
Both teams need to win to stay in a tightly contested play-off race.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Morné Joubert, 13 Alwayno Visagie, 12 Ryan Nell (captain), 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Ashlon Davids, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Stefan Willemse, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Ginter Smuts, 21 Jacobus Marais, 22 Ruwellyn Isbell, 23 Morgan Naude.
Date: Friday, August 9
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Aimee Barrett-Theron
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
DHL WP will be going flat-out in their Currie Cup clash against Phakisa Pumas on Friday. Join us for a celebration of Women’s Day as we start the long weekend by getting behind the blue and white h🔵⚪️ps. #wpjoulekkerding #thefaithful 📹: @callsignvector pic.twitter.com/oHqPfZ2YEt
— WP RUGBY (@WP_RUGBY) August 8, 2019
