Pukke's Dumond becomes a Leopard
The Leopards have included star FNB Pukke flyhalf Cecil Dumond in their team for Friday’s Currie Cup fixture against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Dumond, the younger brother of Sharks ace Monty, has been bracketed with regular flyhalf Clayton Durand in the Leopards starting XV and on the bench.
A decision over who will actually start at flyhalf will be taken later in the week – but Dumond’s elevation to the senior squad is no surprise, having already represented the Leopards with distinction at Under-19 and U21 level.
Twenty-two-year-old Dumond also scored 68 points for Pukke during the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International as he helped his team into the final where they eventually went down to Maties.
Lions Super 14 centre Deon van Rensburg, meanwhile, makes a welcome return to the Leopards squad after withdrawing from the team to face the Cheetahs last week. His centre partner will be Basil de Doncker, who represented the Bulls at junior level.
De Doncker replaces former Cheetahs centre Berndt Theissinger, who broke his nose against his former teammates.
In the pack, former Shark Thabo Mamojele starts ahead of Bennie Adams. Lock forward Rudi Mathee, who injured his ankle against the Cheetahs, is replaced by Anthonie Gronum, who will join Edrich Linde in the second row.
The Leopards team: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Clayton Durand/Cecil Dumond, 9 Theo van Wyk, 8 RW Kember, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 André Swanepoel (captain), 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Philip Lemmer, 18 Rynard Landman, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Durand/Dumond, 22 Muhammed Samaai.
Kick-off: 7.10pm
