Pumas change four for Bulls clash

Johannesburg - The Pumas made four changes to their side for their final Currie Cup match of the season against the Blue Bulls in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Three of the changes were among the pack of forwards with hooker Francois du Toit replacing Frank Herne who shifts to the bench.

Rudi Mathee receives a starting berth at the cost of Marius Coetzer, while flanker Marnus Schoeman comes in for the injured Jaco Bouwer.

Pumas coach MJ Mentz made a host of changes to the backline brought on by the injury of fullback JW Bell. Hoffmann Marnitz will move from centre to the final line of defence with Jerome Pretorius shifting from wing to take up a position in the midfield. Bernado Botha is the only new face in the backline where he will be stationed on the wing.

The Pumas are fresh off a gutsy 37-37 draw with the Cheetahs.

The Mpumalanga side could spoil the Blue Bulls' hopes of claiming their first home semi-final since 2008 should they defy the odds and beat the visitors.

Teams:

Pumas

15 Hoffmann Marnitz, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Rudi Mathee, 4 Giant Mtyanda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Corne Fourie.

Substitutes: 16 Frank Herne, 17 De-Jay Terblanché, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Dylan Petersen, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Wilmaure Louw

Blue Bulls:

TBA