Pumas bring in Lions finesse
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS: Loose forward Marnus Schoeman has returned to the Pumas Currie Cup fold after his stint with the Lions.
Schoeman, who has been in impressive form for the Super Rugby losing Finalist the Lions, has been named in the Pumas starting XV to take on the Griquas on Friday in Nelspruit.
Pumas new coach Jimmy Stonehouse did not hesitate to rush back the former Griquas blindside flank in his quest to start the Currie Cup on a good note.
Completing the loose trio combination are Stefan Willemse at openside and Willie Engelbrecht at NO.8.
In the front row forwards, Simon Westraadt git the nod at hooker ahead of Marko Janse van Rensburg.
In the backline scrumhalf, Stefan Ungerer and flyhalf Christopher Smith will be the halfback pair.
While Hennie Skorbinski will captain the side.
In terms of the Griquas, Godfrey Ramaboea and Khwezi Mkhafu will make their Currie Cup debut when they take to the field of Friday.
Griquas: 15 AJ Coetzee, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendell Wehr, 5 FP Pelser, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus.
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Pieter van Vuren, 20 Izak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts.
Pumas: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (centre), 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Trompie Pretorius.
Date: Friday, August 17
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
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