Halfback blues for Pumas

It was expected, but the Steval Pumas still held out some hope that their Vodacom Super Rugby scrumhalf Faf de Klerk would be able to play Absa Currie Cup rugby this season.

But news Wednesday confirmed that De Klerk is out of action for the rest of the year, leaving the Currie Cup surprise packages struggling at halfback.

It was especially bad news when the team also learnt they lost Dylan Frylinck to a knee injury after he has been impressive in their campaign this season. Frylinck will at least be ready for the Lions clash next week.

With this in mind, coach Jimmy Stonehouse made four changes to his side to face GWK Griquas in Kimberly, bringing in early season scrumhalf Reynier van Rooyen to cover for the halfback injuries and drafting in Valke scrumhalf Sinovuyo “Snake” Nyoka to help out cover the position from the bench.

Coenie van Wyk returns to the team in the place of JW Bell while Stefan Watermeyer, who was a last minute withdrawal before the Cheetahs game, is fit and ready to take his place.

Steval Pumas: Coenie van Wyk, Jerome Pretorius, JW Jonker, Stefan Watermeyer, Rosko Specman, Justin van Staden, Reynier van Rooyen, Renaldo Bothma, Uzair Cassiem, Corne Steenkamp ©, Lubabalo Mtyanda, Frikkie Spies, Vincent Koch, Francois du Toit, Corne Fourie.
Replacements: Frankie Herne, DeJay Terblanche, Marius Coetzer, Jaco Bouwer, Sinovuyo Nyoka, JC Roos, JW Bell.